COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 1, 2025—Campbell Wharton, SVP & Publisher, PRH Christian, announced Laura Barker will step down from her position as VP & Publisher effective April 15, 2025.
During her 22 years with the company, Barker has made an indelible mark on PRH’s Christian publishing program and the industry. Originally joining WaterBrook in 1998 as Managing Editor and eventually becoming Editorial Director, she stepped away in 2004, working as a consultant with WaterBrook and other publishers. Returning in 2009 to a combined WaterBrook & Multnomah as Editorial Director, Barker then rose to become Editor in Chief and eventually to Publisher, where she has been at the helm for the last five years. Over the course of her notable career, Barker has acquired and edited numerous award-winners and bestsellers, such as multiple books by Jennie Allen, including the million copy New York Times bestseller, Get Out of Your Head and Latasha Morrison’s ECPA Book of the Year, Be The Bridge. She has worked directly with a stellar list of authors that includes Liz Curtis Higgs, Katie Davis Majors, Anne Graham Lotz, Joanna Weaver, Randy Alcorn, Kay Arthur and numerous others. Barker also spearheaded the incredible growth of the Christian children’s program and was integral in launching the Ink & Willow creative gift product line.
Barker shared with the PRHCPG staff that she sensed it was time for her to move in a new direction. “Everything seems to confirm this as the best time to make way for fresh vision and leadership in this particular season, so rich with possibility in our new organizational structure as PRH Christian,” Barker said. “Under the continued leadership of Campbell Wharton, and given the solid foundation we’ve built together, I have every confidence that the future holds great opportunity for our program to thrive.”
“Laura set the bar extremely high as an editor and publisher, bringing heart and soul to every author she collaborated with and is universally admired and adored by her colleagues, authors and agents,” said Wharton. “She is known throughout the industry for not only her editorial acumen but also for her passionate advocacy of our authors and their messages during every step of the publishing process and for her insight and wisdom that helped shape our Christian division into a top destination for Christian publishing.”
Wharton added, “I want to thank Laura for her calm and steady leadership over the past several years, building and mentoring a terrific editorial team and for the foundation she has laid for our division’s next phase. Personally, I am deeply appreciative of her guidance and friendship over the many years we’ve worked together. Her warmth, laughter and good nature will be missed. We offer her our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for her future.”
Newly hired Editorial Director Madison Trammel, who is already playing a key role in PRH Christian’s growth plan, will now report to Wharton. All non-fiction and fiction adult editors for WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image and Forum continue to report to Trammel. Now reporting to Wharton is Executive Editor, Sarah Rubio, who will continue to lead PRH Christian’s Children’s program; Susan Tjaden, VP, Executive Editor, for the Ink & Willow gift line (and will remain reporting to Trammel on the adult program); as well as Bridget Baxter, Manager, Publishing Operations.
WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image and Forum are imprints of PRH Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.
Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP, Publicity Director PRH Christian brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com
