David Mehlis will retire June 1 as president of Cook Communications Ministries International (CCMI) after 40 years with the ministry, company officials announced.

Mehlis joined Cook in 1967 as a customer service representative while still a student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a minister of youth at a Presbyterian church.

In 1982, Mehlis was named vice president and chief operating officer. In 1987, he became the first non-Cook family member to lead the ministry, and in 1989 became chairman of the board.

In addition to growing its church ministry, Mehlis expanded Cook by acquiring Scripture Press, Accent Publications, DaySpring, Kingsway Communications and Honor Books.

Carl Lundstrom, chairman of Cook Communications Ministries board of trustees, made the announcement of Mehlis's retirement during a Feb. 21 meeting attended by all of the publisher's Colorado Springs, Colo., employees, as well as employees in Elgin, Ill., Paris, Ontario (Cook Canada), and Eastbourne, England (Cook/U.K. Kingsway Communications) offices via teleconference.

Lundstrom said that a search has already been put in place for the next CCMI president, with the goal of having leadership in place when Mehlis steps down.

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