Zondervan announced "a strategic realignment" this week, in which the world's second largest Christian publisher eliminated five executive positions and about a dozen others.

Among those let go was Executive Vice President of Publishing Scott Bolinder. Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan, said Bolinder had "played a critical role in the company's success over the past two decades. His leadership has been integral to Zondervan's ability to produce meaningful and life changing resources. We will all miss him."

Zondervan officials said the positions cut represented less than 5% of the company's workforce. "While I am confident we will become stronger and more nimble, letting go of Zondervan employees deeply saddens me," Girkins said. "Zondervan's greatest strength is our people. All of these individuals have made great contributions."

As part of the realignment, Zondervan streamlined the company's operations by reducing management layers and forming eight strategic business units that focus on its core markets: Youth Specialties, Editorial Vida (Spanish), Bibles, Trade Books, Church/Academic Reference and Resources, Zonderkidz, Digital and Church Engagement.

Last month, Thomas Nelson Publishers terminated 60 employees, 10% of its 600-strong workforce. The world's largest Christian publisher said the move was tied to an earlier decision to cut the company's number of 2008 new titles by half.