Zondervan has announced that CEO Bruce Ryskamp will retire Sept. 30. He will continue to work with the Christian publisher and parent company HarperCollins Publishers, serving as a special adviser to Jane Friedman, president and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers.

Ryskamp, 64, joined Zondervan in 1983 as vice president of its Bible division. He was promoted to other leadership positions and eventually to the roles of president and CEO in 1993. He stepped down as president in May. Doug Lockhart, the publisher's former senior marketing vice president, was promoted to the position.

Lockhart will assume the CEO role, overseeing and directing Zondervan's growth strategy in addition to managing day-to-day operations as president.

Friedman said Ryskamp “has guided Zondervan through one successful year after another, and has made an enormous contribution to HarperCollins' overall success. HarperCollins has benefited from the best practices set forth at Zondervan. We have learned so much from Bruce, and I am eager to share his wisdom as he advises me going forward.”

A full story will appear in the Sept. 19 issue of Christian Retailing.