CBA has announced that Berean Christian Stores President Les Dietzman will not be the association's next board chairman as planned, and retailer Jim Whitaker instead will take over as chairman next year.

Dietzman had planned to take on the role of chairman in October 2007 but resigned “for personal reasons,” a CBA statement said. The board had announced the selection of Dietzman as the first non-independent retailer chairman of the trade association in July at the International Christian Retail Show in Denver.

Whitaker, founder and president of New Life Christian Stores in Lynchburg, Va., has served on the CBA board since 2000. His term expires Sept. 30, at which time he will begin a three-year term as chairman, replacing Macon, Ga., retailer Chris Childers.

A replacement on the board for Dietzman has not yet been named.