May 21, 2026 — HarperCollins Christian Publishing has announced the following promotions:
Doug Lockhart is stepping into the new role of SVP, Business Development. Doug has done an outstanding job identifying and closing many of HCCP’s recent acquisitions, and his strategic vision has been instrumental in shaping our future. In this new capacity, Doug will focus on initiatives that drive growth and position HCCP for long-term success. Mark Warner and Russ Casenhiser will continue to report to Doug in support of continued growth initiatives.
Robert Bedenbaugh has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Trade Sales, for HCCP and HCF, reporting to Mark Schoenwald, President and Chief Executive Officer, HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Robert has been with HCCP for nearly 16 years, holding various roles, including managing key CBA accounts and overseeing the Amazon business. He became Vice President of Sales in 2021, successfully leading the Online Sales division, including Amazon, Christianbook, and all digital accounts. Under his leadership, online business has more than doubled since 2020. His direct reports will include Sally Driscoll, Sandy Harris, Wren Franklin, Ayannah Mers, Cami Miller, and Rod Schumacher.
Ayannah Mers has been promoted to Vice President, Online Sales, overseeing the Online Sales group. Ayannah joined HCCP in 2010 and played a key part in building the digital business. Since 2018, Ayannah has been part of the Amazon team and participated in the channel’s growth. In 2021, she advanced to Sales Director, taking on leadership of the Amazon team, and was most recently promoted to Senior Director of Sales. Patty Curtis, Nick Gilbert, Brad Poel, and Paul Vought will report to Ayannah.
Paul Vought has been promoted to Sales Director, overseeing the Amazon business. Paul has been with HCCP for almost ten years, beginning as a Telesales Representative before being promoted to Telesales Lead. In 2019, Paul joined the Custom Sales team as Sales Manager, where his analytical and problem-solving skills proved instrumental in improving efficiencies and revenue. Since joining the Online Sales team in 2021, Paul has consistently delivered strong results across the Amazon business, driving double-digit growth, improving returns, and strengthening deal performance. Laura Fernandez will report to him.
