Wolgemuth & Associates announces that the literary agency’s founder and past president, Robert Wolgemuth, will retire at the end of February.
“The significance of Robert’s engagement and work within the Christian publishing industry over the last four decades, including two terms as the ECPA chairman, is difficult to fully encapsulate. He has consistently served authors with God-honoring excellence, humility, and passion, seeking to glorify God and serve the Church through published resources. Robert’s impact has been shaped by a desire and call to stewardship, faithfully serving authors with messages that the Lord has placed on their hearts. Further, Robert’s generous and sacrificial investment in those around him—colleagues, authors, publishers—has marked his career,” said Erik Wolgemuth, who, along with Austin Wilson and Andrew Wolgemuth, purchased the agency from Robert in January of 2020.
Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing reflected, “Robert has been a delight to work with over the years. His knowledge, experience, and insight are the keys to our successful partnership. Robert’s heart for the Gospel has contributed to impacting and reaching people worldwide, and this will be one of his greatest legacies. While we will miss him, we will also pray for him and his family and their well-being and continued impact for the Kingdom as he enters this next season of his life.”
Bestselling author and longtime client of the agency, Joni Eareckson Tada remarked, “I have known Robert for forty years, and have yet to meet a more skilled and seasoned leader in Christian publishing. It’s because he loves Jesus. He also loves serving people. And whether Robert is sharing his love for the Savior in his own writings, or helping others do the same; whether speaking to thousands about generosity or practicing it on a brother in need, my friend excels in character and kindness. While he is retiring from author representation work, I have a strong inclination he will not—and cannot—retire from kingdom work. It’s simply in Robert’s spiritual DNA to keep loving God and His people.”
Robert has been in the media business for over forty years. A former president of Thomas Nelson Publishers and co-founder (alongside Michael Hyatt) of Wolgemuth & Hyatt in 1992 (then after Michael returned to Thomas Nelson, Wolgemuth & Associates in 1998), he is a speaker and best-selling author of over twenty books. His books include She Calls Me Daddy, The Most Important Place on Earth, Lies Men Believe, Gun Lap, Finish Line, and You Can Trust God to Write Your Story (coauthored with his wife). A 1969 graduate of Taylor University, from which he received an honorary doctorate in 2005, Robert is the father of two grown daughters, two sons-in-law, five grandchildren, one grandson-in-law and one great-grandson. He and his wife, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, live in Michigan.
“It has been a joy to work alongside Robert for nearly a dozen years,” said Austin Wilson. “Erik, Andrew, and I glean wisdom from him on a daily basis, and we’re incredibly grateful for how he has handed off the proverbial baton to us in the work of the agency.”
“In God’s providence, and after a few years of ministry in Youth for Christ, I was introduced to the publishing business in 1986,” Robert reminisced. “As a young man, I remember hoping that I’d find a career that would allow me the luxury of giving my life to one industry. One calling. And, by His grace, this is what has happened. As a result, I have been surrounded by colleagues who became acquaintances . . . who became associates . . . who became friends . . . who became family. I simply could not be more overwhelmed and grateful for this. Now, handing off my business to the eager, capable, and godly hands of Andrew, Erik, and Austin, is every Christian entrepreneur’s dream come true.
Going forward, and as God gives him wisdom and plenty of unused verbs, Robert plans to continue to write. B&H is releasing the Men’s Daily Men in 2024 with Robert as the author and General Editor of the notes.
He also volunteers with Nancy’s worldwide ministry, Revive Our Hearts, as a consultant and part of the development team. Since marrying Nancy in 2015 after the death of his first wife, Bobbie, Robert is happy to tell the story of the only broadcast ministry in the world that features daily Bible teaching from a woman, something Nancy has been doing since 2001.
During this season, Robert may do some traveling, although, having done plenty of planes, trains, and automobiles during his career, he will more likely opt for staying close to home with his bride most of the time.
Wolgemuth & Associates specializes in the literary representation of Christian authors, assisting them with excellence in stewarding their publishing endeavors.
