Kent S. Johnson

Kent S. Johnson is chief executive officer of Highlights for Children, Inc. and a member of the corporation’s board of directors. The company, which publishes educational products for children, including the popular children’s magazine Highlights, has grown to include five wholly owned subsidiaries. These include a children’s book publisher, a consumer catalog and e-commerce business, a textbook publisher and a publisher of professional development books for teachers as well as a company that provides direct training seminars for teachers.

Johnson is only the third CEO in the history of the company, which Garry Cleveland Myers, Ph.D., and Caroline Clark Myers, founded in 1946. He is the great-grandson of the founders, and a member of the fourth generation in the family-owned enterprise. Previously, Johnson served as a corporate vice president of strategic management.

Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and his doctorate in Physics from Harvard University. Prior to joining Highlights, he served in various roles in research and development, manufacturing and operations.

Johnson lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and two young sons.