Keith Danby, international CEO of global Bible ministry Biblica, is to retire Sept. 1. CEO Doug Lockhart, who has co-led the ministry with Danby for two years, will assume the reins of the organization, which serves 55 countries.

Danby has served Biblica and Send The Light (STL) for nearly 25 years, joining STL in 1987 as the first CEO of the new Christian resources ministry launched out of Operation Mobilization (OM). During his career at STL, he grew the enterprise into the leading Christian resources ministry, which included wholesale distribution, retail and publishing. Danby was also instrumental in the 2007 merger of STL with International Bible Society to form IBS-STL Global, which became Biblica in 2009.

“We have been blessed by Keith’s leadership and are eternally grateful for his service to our organization and to the kingdom work he has championed,” said Michael Fitch, chairman of the Biblica global board, adding that a smooth transition is expected, “thanks to his legacy of leadership.”

In April 2010 Danby was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the International College of Cultural Studies in Hyderabad, India in recognition of more than 20 years of service and specifically to Christian literature in South Asia.

Biblica has translated the Bible in more than 100 languages and is the translation sponsor and publisher of the New International Version. For more information, visit Biblica.com.