Jim Childs will retire as publisher of Rowman & Littlefield's trade division, Globe Pequot Press, on October 31.

Childs joined GPP in September 2014, overseeing the acquisitions of Stackpole Books, Sheridan House, and Gooseberry Patch. He also developed a strategy to publish books for regional markets.

“In Jim’s tenure here, he has shaped the future of our category-driven, enthusiast imprints," said Rowman & Littlefield CEO Jed Lyons in a statement. “Jim led a team effort that created a long-range publishing plan, launched strategic publishing partnerships and developed a market-focused approach to book acquisitions.”

There are no immediate plans to replace Childs as publisher. Lyons said he will serve as publisher at-large until a successor is named, likely in 2018.

Childs’s exit from GPP ends a 40-year publishing career. Prior to joining GPP he was president of Time Home Entertainment and had served in executive positions with HarperCollins, John Wiley, and the Taunton Press.