Jonathan Merkh

The book on Jonathan Merkh reads like an intriguing, adventurous, at times amusing, novel. For over 30 years, he has served in a variety of roles in all aspects of the book business.

Writers are at the heart of everything he does. He has guided the literary works of a full range of talented authors, experts and entertainers including Brad Paisley, Glenn Beck, Robin McGraw, Joan Lunden, Dave Ramsey, John and Stasi Eldredge, Dr. John C. Maxwell, Donald Miller and Dr. Charles Stanley. He helped make publishing history, as Duck Dynasty’s Robertson family sold six million copies of five different books – all of them bestsellers, two reaching No. 1.

Under his leadership as V.P. and Publisher at Thomas Nelson Publishers, Howard Books (a division of Simon & Schuster), Guidepost, and today as President and CEO of Forefront Books, Merkh has published nearly 100 New York Times bestsellers.

Publisher’s Weekly has recognized Forefront Books as one of the top-five fastest-growing independent publishers for three years in a row, starting in 2023. Inc. Magazine has named Forefront Books among the top fastest-growing companies in the U.S.

Jonathan is a four-time girl dad who lives with his wife near Nashville, Tennessee. He earned a B.A. in Bible and cross-cultural communications from Welch College and a master’s in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University. Jonathan also serves on the board of directors of the Independent Book Publishers Association.