Talking Book World Adds Two Publishing Giants to Its Board of Directors (2/00)

Talking Book World, operator of more than 40 locations in North America, announced that two new investors have joined the company's board of directors.

Richard Simtob, founder and president of Talking Book World, said Neil Topham, an owner and director of Seek Media.com, Inc., and former chief financial officer for Harper Collins publishers, was elected a director. George Craig, retired CEO and president of Harper Collins was elected chairman of the board.

Investments by Craig and Topham, representing 30 percent of the company's operating capital, follows the successful sale of Family Christian Stores, Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1998 by the two publishing industry giants. Family Christian Stores went from 130 stores in 1994 to more than 250 in 1999.

Simtob said this major investment in the chain of audiobook stores will have an immediate impact on the company, as it prepares for an aggressive schedule of new store openings in 2000. The largest audiobook retailer will nearly double its number of franchised and company stores in the coming year, according to Simtob.