Merkh Out at Guideposts  

By Lynn Garrett -- Publishers Weekly, 5/7/2008 8:01:00 AM

Jonathan Merkh, v-p/publisher of Guideposts Books, has left the company. Merkh, formerly publisher of the Nelson Books imprint at Thomas Nelson, joined Guideposts last May as part of the organization’s strategy to expand its retail book operation. 

According to an official statement made jointly by Merkh and Richard V. Hopple, Guideposts president and CEO, Merkh resigned "after much discussion and due consideration." In the statement Hopple said, “We are grateful for Jonathan’s energy and many contributions during his time at the helm of Guideposts Books.” When he joined Guideposts—which has been primarily a direct mail company--Merkh described his role as “fully [leveraging] our resources to support the retail initiatives,” expanding the organization’s reach into stores. No word yet on how he will be replaced.