Larry Downs Jr.'s resignation last month as president of Miami-based Editorial Unilit has ended months of speculation that the Spanish publishing company would be sold or merged with another house. Thomas Nelson announced last week that Downs would become vice president of its Spanish publishing imprint, Caribe-Betania Editores.

Since Downs' resignation Nov. 19, David Ecklebarger, president of Spanish House, Unilit's parent company, has reorganized its administrative team. Ecklebarger has taken over as president of Unilit; Downs' brother Robert is vice president of operations; his father, Larry Downs Sr., is U.S. sales manager; Carlos Hernández is sales manager for Ibero-America and the Caribbean; and María Fernández is administrative vice president.

When Downs suggested the possibility of putting the company up for sale and working with a new owner, Ecklebarger said he was open to the idea. "However, it was not my intention to sell. I agreed, believing that that course of action might be the best for the ministry," Ecklebarger said.

He added: "Larry and I parted with mixed emotions. Our different philosophies have not terminated our mutual respect or friendship. We both look forward to continuing to work for the common cause of strengthening this industry."

A full story will appear in the Jan. 3 issue of Christian Retailing.