Publishing boss to head British
and Foreign Bible Society

SWINDON, England — The British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) has announced the appointment of James Catford as its new Chief Executive to succeed Neil Crosbie, who becomes UBS General Secretary on March 1.

Mr Catford has for many years played a leading role in religious publishing in the UK. Until recently he was UK Religious Division Publishing Director at HarperCollins, where he published the Good News Bible and launched the Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible.

Mr Catford has also worked as a publishing director with Hodder & Stoughton, where he had responsibility for the New International Version (NIV) Bible among other titles, and as managing director of publishing house Trinity Square Ltd. He began his career at the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, before moving onto the post of commissioning editor with InterVarsity Press (IVP).

Since leaving HarperCollins in July, Mr Catford has been working for IVP in a consultative capacity. As he takes up his new role with BFBS, he will continue his link with IVP as a member of its board.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join Bible Society, which I have known and respected for many years,” Mr Catford said. “I am looking forward to joining a highly-talented team as we seek to place the message of the Bible at the heart of society.”