By CASSANDRA MICKENS/Associate Editor

BIRMINGHAM — EBSCO President and CEO F. Dixon Brooke Jr. announced Jan. 15 his plans to retire at the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, after four decades with the company.

Brooke joined EBSCO in 1973 and has spent the past eight and half years serving as president and CEO — only the third president in EBSCO’s 70-year history.

“We owe a great thanks to Dixon for his long service to EBSCO,”  Chairman of the Board J.T. Stephens said in a news release. “We greatly appreciate his guidance and the continuing success of the company under his management. We thank Dixon and wish him a well-deserved and enjoyable retirement.”

The Board of Directors has selected Tim Collins, president of EBSCO Information Services, to succeed Brooke effective at the start of the next fiscal year, July 1.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as EBSCO’s president,” Brooke said. “It has been challenging, demanding at times, and very rewarding. EBSCO is a great organization, full of wonderful, talented people. We are indeed fortunate to have Tim Collins ready and wiling to step up to this new leadership challenge. Tim is an exceptionally accomplished leader with a proven management record marked by success. ”

Brooke and Collins will work closely over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition; and during that time, Collins will continue to serve as president of EBSCO’s largest division, EBSCO Information Services. Following retirement, Brooke will continue to serve EBSCO as a member of the Board of Directors.

“I feel honored to have been presented with this opportunity. I’ve very much enjoyed my time working with many talented and committed people at EBSCO and am excited about being able to work with the entire EBSCO team in the future,” Collins said. “I am looking forward to working with Dixon over the coming months during the transition period and then working to help EBSCO realize its full potential over the long run.”