Christian Retailing

Strang names book group vice president of marketing Print Email
Sunday, 07 January 2007 07:00 PM America/New_York

Christian retailing industry veteran Lucy Diaz Kurz has been named the book group vice president of marketing for Strang Communications Company.

In her role, which is effective immediately, Kurz, who was promoted from executive director of marketing, will work closely with the company's founder and CEO Stephen Strang as well as its Book Group Executive Vice President Tessie DeVore to provide strategic marketing development.

Kurz will be responsible for leading, executing and spearheading new marketing projects for Strang's book imprints, which include Charisma House, FrontLine, Realms and Siloam.

“Lucy strives for excellence in everything she does and has taken the Strang marketing team to new levels of achievement,” DeVore said. “Our book group had a record year in 2006 with best-sellers such as Jerusalem Countdown and 23 Minutes in Hell, and Lucy was a key player in making this happen. As vice president (of marketing), I know she will help us make 2007 another history-making year.”

Kurz, who has worked at Strang since September 2004, has more than 20 years of experience in the Christian products industry. She previously had her own consulting firm, Lucy Diaz Kurz Consulting, which provided marketing, development and distribution relations to Christian music labels, distributors, management firms and artists.

Kurz has also served as president of development for Gospo Centric and B-Rite Music. While there, she directed the CBA marketing for The Nu Nation Project, Kirk Franklin's multi-platinum album, and collaborated with Interscope/A&M/Geffen and Universal Music Group.

Additionally, Kurz has served as vice president of marketing for Integrity Inc., overseeing the marketing plans for Hosanna! and other releases.

Before joining Integrity, Kurz spent nine years at Sparrow Records, where she served as the vice president of artist development. During her time there, she worked with such artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Carmen, PFR, Steve Green, Michael Card, Margaret Becker and Susan Ashton among others.

Kurz, who has a degree in communications arts and sciences from The University of Southern California, also received recognition for creating the successful Sparrow Super Saturday promotion.