Becky Nesbitt, most recently editorial director and executive editor at Penguin Random House, has joined Forefront Books, where she will serve as associate publisher and will establish her own as-yet-unnamed imprint. Nesbitt will focus on titles in the self-help, lifestyle, and entertainment categories, with her first books planned for next summer.
Forefront is the Nashville-based hybrid publisher formed by Jonathan Merkh in 2018. The publisher was named one of PW’s fast-growing indie publishers of 2022. Nesbitt and Merkh had previously worked together, including at Simon & Schuster’s Howard Books imprint, where they signed Paul Young, author of the bestseller The Shack, to two new books. While at PRH, Nesbitt was executive editor of the WaterBrook imprint.
"Jonathan has assembled an incredible, forward-thinking team," Nesbitt said in a statement. "I’m excited to be a part of it."
Among Forefront’s bestsellers in 2023 are Dark Future by Glenn Beck and John C. Maxwell’s The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication.
“Becky is a trusted colleague and longtime friend as well as one of the most respected editors in our industry,” Merkh said in a statement. “I’m personally thrilled to have her on my team and looking forward to what she will add to our company.”
