COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo—January 20, 2026—Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group is thrilled to announce promotions within its marketing, publicity, editorial and publishing teams.
Beverly Rykerd has been promoted to VP, Senior Director of Publicity and Communications, continuing to report to Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher, PRH Christian. In the last year, Bev’s role expanded to handle all communications for the new PRH Christian division, resulting in an extraordinary level of positive publicity for PRH Christian and in turn attracting new business. “In her 14 years at PRH, Bev has proved time and time again that she is not only a trusted and experienced leader of the publicity department, but a top-notch, creative publicist with an understated tenacity. Admired for her impeccable relationships with the media and steadfast knowledge of the changing media landscape, Bev’s leadership shines as her team is regarded as one of the finest publicity departments in Christian publishing,” says Wharton.
Johanna Inwood has been promoted to Marketing Director, continuing to report to Ginia Croker, VP and Marketing Director. “A 20-year veteran at Penguin Random House, Johanna is a marketing genius, creating savvy, strategic promotional plans that make a tremendous impact on the success of PRH Christian’s books in the marketplace,” Croker says. She continues to excel in her role by leading successful campaigns that result in New York Times bestsellers and award-winning authors including Jennie Allen, Latasha Morrison, Madison Prewett Trout, Ashley Hetherington, Sarita Lyons, and Jordan Lee Dooley. Johanna also has taken on the role of brand manager for John Mark Comer where she has greatly contributed to the ongoing success of Practicing the Way and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.
Leslie Calhoun has been promoted to Editor, now reporting to Madison Trammel, Editorial Director. Leslie joined Penguin Random House in August 2017 as a marketing and publicity assistant for the WaterBrook and Multnomah imprints, moving into an assistant editor role at Ink & Willow in 2021. She has acquired dozens of titles since then, including the top-selling The Bible Is Funny Card Game, which she conceived and shaped with comedian Anthony Russo. In her new role, Leslie will focus on acquiring for Penguin Random House Christian’s Align Insight and WaterBrook imprints. She has already jumped fully into her new responsibilities, recently acquiring New York Times bestselling author Allie Millington and leading the internal team developing Annie F. Downs’s Let’s Read the Gospels Bible product. Trammel adds, “Leslie is eloquent, imaginative, and resourceful, and is an indispensable member of the Penguin Random House Christian team.”
Bridget Baxter has been promoted to Senior Manager, Publisher’s Office & Operations, reporting to Campbell Wharton. A trusted 10-year veteran at PRH, Bridget is known for tirelessly working behind the scenes to ensure operations run smoothly across the Christian division. In her expanded role, Bridget will now support Wharton in the management of the publisher’s office. Wharton notes, “Given her speed, efficiency, wisdom, and capability to work cross-functionally, and her institutional knowledge of WaterBrook and Multnomah, Bridget is poised to support PRH Christian’s growth plans.”
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group—made up of the imprints WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image, Forum, Align Insight, Ink & Willow, and WaterBrook Children’s—is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.
MEDIA CONTACT: Beverly Rykerd, brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com
