London/Charlotte, September 1, 2025–From September 2025, The Good Book Company will become fully employee-owned, giving staff a collective voice in the company’s direction and ensuring that the ministry’s mission, values, and commitment to high-quality Christian resources will be preserved for generations to come.
Founders Tim and Kathy Thornborough and the three other shareholding directors will transfer 100% ownership to an independent Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which will ensure that the company continues to operate in line with its founding values and mission and will provide accountability from a trustee board made up of staff members and independent trustees.
For Tim, who started the ministry in 1991, this transition follows careful succession planning and reflects his desire to see TGBC’s mission outlast his own tenure:
“This is about stewardship. Our goal has always been to serve the church with faithful, accessible resources, and the Lord has entrusted us with a ministry we love. He’s also blessed us with a talented and committed team who share the founding vision, theological convictions, and ministry goals that underpin our mission. So, by placing the company in their hands, we’re safeguarding that mission for decades to come and keeping Christ at the heart of everything we do.”
The directors are handing the company over in a strong financial position: it carries no debt, is consistently profitable, and has grown remarkably since its humble beginnings. Over the years, it has navigated the shifting publishing landscape with a focus on quality content, strong partnerships, and a commitment to biblical truth.
Day-to-day leadership will now lie with James Burstow and Carl Laferton, who become joint CEOs, having previously been part of the senior leadership at TGBC. Tim and Kathy will remain involved in the Finance and Rights teams, and Tim will chair the trustee board.
Independent Trustee Matthew Dalton, who previously worked for John Lewis, the UK’s best-known employee-owned company, said: “Safeguarding the mission of Christian organisations is vital work. It’s great to see the transition to a structure that will keep the business agile and creative, while giving powerful checks and balances to maintain the founding values and company direction.”
US Customer Service Manager Calista Doty added: “I am deeply honored to be the first Employee Trustee representing our rapidly growing US team. This transition will further strengthen the warm and productive transatlantic bonds that we already enjoy, as well as reinforcing our sense of purpose and investment in a ministry that we care so passionately about.”
“We’re excited about the future,” said Tim. “This move ensures that the ministry of The Good Book Company will remain true to our founding principles—not only in what we publish, but also in how we go about our ministry. At the same time, it will enable us to continue our growth and serve even more people around the world with great gospel resources that magnify and proclaim the Lord Jesus.”
The Good Book Company joins other notable employee-owned companies including John Lewis, The Entertainer toy shop chain, Richer Sounds, and Aardman Animations (the creators of Wallace and Gromit) in the UK—and in the US, Taylor Guitars, Bob’s Red Mill, Barbour Christian Publishing, W.L. Gore (creators of Gore-Tex), and Publix Grocery Stores.
The Good Book Company
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company is a Christian publisher dedicated to producing accessible, biblically faithful resources for all ages. With offices in Charlotte, NC and London, UK, the company serves churches and individuals around the world, currently employing over 50 people worldwide and with an active list of over 800 titles. It publishes around 50 new titles a year, and its Rights Team has enabled more than 750 translations in 60+ languages.
For more information contact:
Lauren Holley, Press and Publicity, The Good Book Company, publicity@thegoodbook.co.uk, +1 866 244 2165 (Office hours)
Tim Thornborough, Chair of TGBC Trust, The Good Book Company, tim.thornborough@thegoodbook.co.uk, +44 780 800 3349 (Mobile)
