The Book Industry Study Group has named Mark Kuyper, current president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, as executive director, effective June 15.
Kuyper succeeds current executive director Len Vlahos, who will step down June 12 to join the management team, and, along with his wife Kristen Gilligan, eventually assume operational control, of the Tattered Cover Bookstores in Denver, Colo.
“We were pleased to find an association veteran from within our industry with a long history of success,” said BISG chair Tara Catogge, of Quarto Publishing, who headed the four-person search committee for the new executive director. ”Mark has extensive strategic planning experience mixed with both an easy way and a commanding presence that members will welcome. His strong vision and guiding hand is exactly what BISG needs at this crucial time in our development.”
Prior to joining ECPA, Kuyper was an executive at the Christian Retail Association, and previously worked as a sales director for Nav Press. In addition, he has served on the BISG board for the past 10 years. He will be based in BISG's New York City office.
“I am thrilled to join the team at BISG,” said Kuyper. “The organization has a rich history of bringing peers together to solve problems, advance new ideas, and enable the profitable delivery of content to readers—I’ve been proud to be involved in that mission as a board member, and am honored to have the opportunity to now lead the staff.”
