ECPA announced May 26 that President/CEO Mark Kuyper has accepted the position of executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), the general book industry’s leading trade organization. Having served on the BISG board for the past ten years, Kuyper will join the New York City-based organization in his new position as of June 15.

“I speak on behalf of the ECPA board of directors and the entire ECPA membership in conveying our appreciation for Mark’s leadership these past 11 years as ECPA’s President and CEO,” said Dwight Baker, ECPA chair and president of Baker Publishing Group. “His innovative vision and unique ability to foster collaboration and friendship has led the industry successfully through a period of great change.  I am confident that all he brought to our industry will now be accomplished for the greater publishing industry and we are proud of him.”

“I have thoroughly loved my tenure at ECPA – working with many amazing, gifted, spiritually mature men and women – for which I will be forever grateful,” said Kuyper. “I now look forward to the opportunity to serve the larger publishing community in my new position with BISG.”

“We were pleased to find an association veteran from within our industry with a long history of success,” said BISG Chair Tara Catogge (Quarto Publishing), who also headed the four-person search committee that sought to fill the position. “Mark has extensive strategic planning experience mixed with both an easy way and a commanding presence that members will welcome. His strong vision and guiding hand is exactly what BISG needs at this crucial time in our development.”

Kuyper has spent nearly thirty years working in the larger publishing ecosystem, and has seen the industry from multiple perspectives. Prior to his role at ECPA, Kuyper was an executive at CBA, and prior to that, a sales director for NavPress.

He has extensive experience working with boards and committees, planning and managing a stellar line up of events, and navigating the changing digital landscape, and has served on the BISG Board for the past ten years. He also holds a Certified Association Executive accreditation from the American Society of Association Executives.

Kuyper succeeds BISG Executive Director Len Vlahos, who has resigned his position effective June 12 to join the management team of the Tattered Cover Book Stores in Denver, and, along with his wife, Kristen Gilligan, eventually assume operational control.

ECPA’s programs and events will continue without pause, as the organization is endeavoring to secure an interim director will be secured.