Leading publisher deepens its presence in religious market to expand to new channels and audiences
(New York, NY—October 30, 2024)—Penguin Random House has announced the launch of the Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, a new standalone entity that builds on its esteemed evangelical Christian publishing program. With a renewed focus on market growth and a commitment to dedicating additional resources, this initiative aims to significantly expand readership, strengthen connections with audiences, and deepen its range of books and content offerings for the Christian readership.
Comprised of the Waterbrook, Multnomah, Image, and Forum imprints, this new publishing entity will be led by Campbell Wharton, who has been named SVP, Publisher. Wharton will newly be reporting into Manuel Sansigre, CFO of Penguin Random House.
Highly regarded for his experience and expertise in publishing across all aspects of the business, Wharton is perfectly positioned to lead the expanded Christian publishing program. He has led publications in multiple categories, including celebrity, music, pop culture, social justice, politics, business, religion, and current affairs, working with such notable authors as Tim Tebow, Daymond John, Michael Todd, Austin Channing Brown, Jennie Allen, John Mark Comer, Leanne Morgan, Justice Neil Gorsuch, Richard Rohr, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Reporting to Wharton will be Laura Barker VP, Publisher, who will continue to lead the WaterBrook and Multnomah editorial team of this new group. Ginia Croker, VP, Director of Marketing, and Beverly Rykerd, VP, Director of Publicity, and their respective teams will report to Wharton.
Based in Colorado Springs, Waterbrook & Multnomah has a long and successful track record publishing books that inspire readers to find rich, spiritual purpose in their daily lives, with practical guidance for applying Christian principles to the complexities of life today. The many categories include Christian Living/Inspiration, Health/Wellness/Relationships, Social and Cultural Commentary, Spiritual Formation, and Devotionals. Notable authors include John Mark Comer, Jennie Allen, Tim Tebow, Mark Batterson, Andrew Peterson, Latasha Morrison, Madison Prewett Troutt, Michael Todd, Jordan Lee Dooley, Rich Villodas, and Katie Davis Majors.
Image, a leading imprint of Catholic content, and Forum, an imprint of conservative thought leaders, will now be a part of the newly formed Christian Publishing Group. Those editorial teams will report into Barker. The Convergent publishing program, with its mission to publish books that draw on deep experience both in mainstream and Christian publishing with a focus on nourishing readers’ inner lives in the categories of spirituality, personal growth, self-help, relationships, social commentary, memoir, and lifestyle, will remain with the Random House Publishing Group. The imprint will join the Harmony and Rodale Books team with Derek Reed, Editorial Director of Convergent, reporting to Theresa Zoro, President of Harmony and Rodale Books and now Convergent, effective immediately.
Tina Constable has been named EVP, Business Development, Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, also reporting to Sansigre. In this new position, Constable will draw upon her more than three decades in publishing to collaborate with Sansigre and Wharton on acquisitions, exploration of new consumer channels, and partnership opportunities including streaming curriculum and direct-to-church initiatives.
Lori Addicott, VP, Director of Christian Market Sales, will also serve as VP, Director of Sales, PRH Christian Publishing Group. Lori and her growing team will continue to serve as Sales representatives for all Penguin Random House Publishing titles in the Christian market and will be an integral part of the company’s growth strategy as it forges new partnerships.
“The Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group is an exciting home for Christian authors. As a new standalone division, we are going to be able to invest more deeply in our imprints, expand our content offerings, and ultimately be a place that services a wide range of Christian readers in innovative ways. Building on the incredible roster of authors already home to us, our growth strategy will underscore our commitment to readers and broadening our footprint in the evangelical publishing space. I am thrilled by this opportunity to take our Christian program to a whole new level,” said Wharton.
“This sector holds immense potential, and as we develop innovative strategies for this dynamic and growing marketplace, we are thrilled by the opportunities our renewed commitment to Christian publishing brings,” said Sansigre. “This focus not only enhances our position at Penguin Random House but also empowers authors and enriches the reading experience for countless readers.”
Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher, is dedicated to its mission to ignite a universal passion for reading by creating books for everyone. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people globally, was formed on July 1, 2013, by Bertelsmann and Pearson. As of April 1, 2020, Bertelsmann is full owner of the company. With more than 300 imprints and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With over 16,000 new titles, and more than 700 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.
