Don Cady, who has been with Wesleyan Publishing House (WPH) for more than 25 years, stepped down from his leadership role last month. Cady has served as WPH business manager, assistant publisher and most recently its general publisher.

Wayne MacBeth, executive director of communication and administration for the Wesleyan Church, will serve as acting general publisher.

"Don Cady has a great heart for service to the church and to the people of the church and for creating disciples through WPH products," MacBeth said at a May 29 farewell reception for Cady.

Cady, whose last day was May 31, "isn't retiring, but rather is open for new opportunities," WPH said.

He is credited for having several WPH books recognized, including The Invisible: What the Church Can Do to Find and Serve the Least of These by Arloa Sutter, which was honored in the Compassion category of Outreach Magazine's Outreach Resources of the Year Awards in 2011. Cady is also credited for helping ReThink Your Life by Stan Toler reach the CBA best-seller list.

Additionally, Cady founded the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference in 2000, which drew editors, agents and authors from a significant number of Christian publishers.

Cady is also credited for bringing focus to WPH's vision and mission amid changes in the Wesleyan Church, culture and publishing industry. He transitioned Fishers, Ind.-based WPH from printing and distribution operations to more economically sound partnerships and outsource options.

Cady also helped establish WPH's global publishing presence through licensing more than 50 books and ministry resources of the publishing house for translation and distribution worldwide. He also resurrected the "Wesleyan Bible Commentary" project and completed the New Testament series.

David "Skip" Prichard, who resigned as CEO of Ingram Content Group in June 2012, has been appointed as the Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC) president and CEO.

Prichard will take over for Jay Jordan, who will retire June 30 after 15 years as OCLC president and CEO. Prichard will serve as OCLC president-elect, effective June 3, and will officially become president and CEO July 1.

"Skip Prichard is a proven leader with an outstanding record of accomplishment," said Sandy Yee, chairperson of OCLC's board of trustees and dean of Wayne State University Libraries and School of Library and Information Science. "He has guided leading library services organizations through eras of significant change, from print to electronic and from local to global. His experience and commitment to libraries will help us continue our work to move library services and cooperation forward—in the cloud, on mobile devices and through the collaborative work of libraries and partners around the world."

Prichard added: "OCLC has a long tradition of strong leadership and vision, and I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to lead the cooperative into what promises to be an exciting and challenging future. OCLC and member libraries are using the newest technologies available to move library services to the cloud where they continue to collaboratively build resources and infrastructure to share. I look forward to working with the talented OCLC staff and membership to ensure that we build on that momentum, and provide the resources necessary for libraries and librarians around the world to meet and exceed the increasing expectations of their users."

Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit service and research organization dedicated to improving access to the world's information and reducing library costs.

In a Christian Retailing report in 2011, Prichard, who was with Ingram for five years, said the company had restructured so that Christian products could be better distributed to any channel and other general market products could, in turn, be accessed by Christian stores.

"We want to do everything we can to help Christian stores survive and thrive," he said.

Spring Arbor, Ingram's wholesale distributor, has served the Christian market for nearly 30 years.

Guideposts has announced the retirement of Richard V. Hopple as president, CEO and trustee. Hopple, 66, who has held the post since 2007, will continue in a consulting capacity until Aug. 31. Former Guideposts President and CEO John F. Temple will serve as interim CEO.

"We are grateful for Dick's leadership over the years, ensuring the health of the organization through a difficult economic downturn," said Elizabeth Peale Allen, chairman of the board of trustees. "There are many noteworthy contributions over the years, particularly his emphasis on innovation, his deep commitment to our readers and customers. We wish him well in the future."

Hopple noted that he leaves the Danbury, Conn.-based nonprofit company "in a position poised for growth."

"The new products, services and ministries that have launched, including Mysterious Ways magazine, inspiring and engaging fiction series, and growing outreach programs complement the flagship magazine, Guideposts, and add to the ways the organization reaches millions of people each year," he said. "I'm confident in the management team, knowing they will continue to lead the company going forward. I'm proud of what we have accomplished and what they will accomplish."

Guideposts imprints include Candy Cane Press, Ideals, Williamson and Summerside Press. Guideposts magazine reaches 6 million readers, company officials said.

B&H Publishing Group President Selma Wilson has appointed Amanda Sloan acting vice president of marketing. Mary Katharine Hunt, who previously held the position, will join Justice of Mercy International as executive director of operations June 1.

Sloan came to B&H as marketing manager of trade books in 2010, and headed promotion efforts on New York Times best-sellers The Vow by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter; The Resolution for Men by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Randy Alcorn; The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer; and Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure. Sloan was previously national marketing manager for LifeWay Christian Stores, the retail division of LifeWay Christian Resources, B&H's parent company.

"I am so grateful for Amanda and the excellent work she has already done in marketing for B&H," Wilson said. "Our executive staff so appreciates her accepting this role on our team in this time of transition. We will miss Mary Katharine, but know this new role is God's perfect plan for her life."

Hunt, who joined B&H in 2011, spent 20 years combined at LifeWay Christian Resources. While at B&H, she led the recently introduced "Every Word Matters" rebranding initiative, helped relaunched the B&H Kids imprint and refocused the company's marketing efforts for the digital age. A champion of overseas mission work in her personal life, Hunt will remain based in Nashville with her new job, but will also travel regularly to other countries confronting global injustice.

New Hope Publishers has appointed award-winning marketer Maegan Harris Roper as its marketing and sales manager.

"Maegan brings not only a heart for the mission of New Hope Publishers, but also her experience with marketing in the changing environment that publishers are facing today," said Andrea Mullins, publisher and director of the Birmingham, Ala.-based company. "There could not be a more strategic time for Maegan to join our team."

Prior to joining New Hope Publishers, Roper worked with Thomas Nelson, Abingdon Press and B&H Publishing Group.

Her marketing work for The Chronological Study Bible won the 2009 Retailers Choice Award from Christian Retailing for Marketing/Promotion Campaign.

Besides Lucado, Roper has worked with best-selling authors such as John MacArthur, John Maxwell, John Eldredge, Charles Stanley, Babbie Mason and Melody Carlson. Originally from Birmingham, she is a graduate of the University of Montevallo. She and her husband, Jeremy, have two children and live in McCalla, Ala.

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected since its original publication.

Abingdon Press has appointed Brenda Smotherman as the associate publicity manager. She will head public relations efforts for titles in the Christian living, ministry resources, leadership, and teaching and learning categories, while assisting with other product lines and publishing initiatives.

Smotherman was most recently a publicist for Thomas Nelson's nonfiction titles, previously handling the publisher's Bible, reference and curriculum products. She has also served as a publicist for McCain & Co. Public Relations. Additionally, Smotherman worked for more than a decade in the Christian music industry mainly handling marketing and tour promotions for Provident Label Group artists.

"I am very pleased that Brenda Smotherman has joined the Abingdon Press team," said Abingdon Press Executive Director of Marketing Tamara Crabtree. "Brenda's years of experience in publishing combined with a deep knowledge of Christian books and resources will strengthen our marketing efforts for Abingdon Press titles."

Abingdon Press is the publishing arm of the United Methodist Publishing House.

Editorial Portavoz has appointed Peter Cerra as senior director of sales and marketing. Cerra will be responsible to plan, develop, oversee and direct all marketing, sales and promotional operations for the Spanish publishing division of Kregel Publications.

With more than 23 years of experience in the publishing industry, Cerra—president of the Spanish Evangelical Products Association (SEPA)—previously served as senior sales director at Editorial Vida (Zondervan), where he managed the Spanish sales and marketing team for both domestic and international markets.

"I am very happy to have Peter joining our team," said Tito Mantilla, publisher of Editorial Portavoz. "His passion for Bible-based, Spanish Christian publishing and his commitment to strong customer relations align perfectly with our mission and vision. With Peter's experience and special skill set, we are ready to make an even greater impact in the Spanish Christian publishing industry."

Jerold W. Kregel, Kregel's executive vice president of publishing and chief financial officer, added: "We are very pleased with the growth and success of Portavoz these past few years and are excited to have Peter join us as we continue to expand and grow our Spanish division."