A Christian publishing veteran has returned to the industry to lead one of its oldest enterprises for its new owners.

Matthew Thibeau, president of Catholic market publisher Harcourt Religion during the 1990s, was named CEO of the new Standard Publishing Group on its purchase from Standex International Corporation (SIC), last month.

Thibeau announced the sale to The Wicks Group of Companies L.L.C., a private equity firm, to retailers and other suppliers at the International Christian Retail Show today.

Details of the terms-finalized six months after Standard Publishing was put up for sale along with Berean Christian Stores, another Standex division-were not disclosed.

Most recently a senior vice president at the Catholic Health Association, Thibeau said that he looked forward to building on Standard's strong history as a publisher of Bible study and Sunday school materials.

The New York City-based Wicks Group invests in communications, information and media businesses. Among the titles its divisions publish are the urban music and lifestyle general market magazine VIBE and Daily Racing Form, the daily newspaper of thoroughbred racing.

Standard was put up for sale along with Berean and a citrus fruit retail business when SIC decided last year to get rid of its Consumer Products Group to concentrate on its industrial businesses.

Randy Scott, who served as Standard president and group vice president for SIC, left both companies on completion of the sale, said Stacey Constas, senior corporate attorney for SIC. Constas told Christian Retailing that the sale of Berean had “not yet been consummated,” as the two sales were separate.

Look for a full story in the Aug. 21 edition of Christian Retailing.

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