Michael Gage has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Kirkbride Bible Company, company officials said.

Gage took over the position Sept. 1 from his father, J. Marshall Gage, who served as president for the last 19 years and will continue as CEO and chairman of the board.

Michael Gage has been with Indianapolis-based Kirkbride for the last 12 years, working in graphic arts with marketing, as production manager and for the last two-plus years as executive vice president.

He is the third generation of the Gage family to serve as president and takes the reins in time to begin the centennial anniversary of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible KJV Edition, first published in 1908.

"Kirkbride has established itself in the Christian marketplace as the publisher of one of the best reference Bibles available?the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible," Gage said. "Our goal is to continue to publish and distribute through our partners a quality smyth-sewn, one-volume resource Bible to enhance Bible study for Christians everywhere."