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In mid-August, Dale Denham, MAS+, joined PPAI as the Association’s new president and CEO. Robert (Bob) McLean, Jr., CPA, CAE, CEM, who served as interim president as well as executive vice president for the past six months, will continue as EVP.

“Dale is the right leader at the right time for PPAI,” says Todd Pottebaum, MAS+, chair of the board and the PPAI Executive Search Committee. “The PPAI board and the Executive Search Committee are extremely impressed with Dale’s credentials and industry experience. His enthusiasm for the position and leadership capabilities demonstrated historically and through the PPAI executive search process, stood out among an exceptionally competitive field of candidates.”

Pottebaum adds, “Bob has done an outstanding job for PPAI during this transition, and we are grateful for his strong and dedicated leadership. His focus on the success of the organization allowed the board to concentrate on the task of finding the Association’s next president.”

Denham joined PPAI after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer for longtime distributor member company, Geiger. Before joining Geiger in 2011, Denham was senior vice president for Advertising Specialty Institute, another leader in the promotional products industry and a key ally to PPAI in legislative advocacy and other common industry interests.

The Executive Search Committee consisted of Pottebaum; Ira Neaman, MAS, PPAI immediate past chair and president of Vantage Apparel; Kevin Walsh, CAS, PPAI vice chair of finance and president of Showdown Displays; and Dawn Olds, MAS, PPAI chair-elect and senior vice president of HALO. PPAI’s strategic planning consultant, Maura Mitchell of Brandology, along with PPAI’s General Counsel Cory Halliburton of Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C., served as advisors to the committee. SearchWide Global, led by Executive Vice President Mark Gnatovic, served as PPAI’s executive search consultant.

“Dale’s leadership, technology and industry experience will allow PPAI to seamlessly and strategically move forward to lead a growing and dynamic membership base and marketing industry,” says Mitchell. “Dale has solid fiscal responsibility experience and stellar leadership capabilities. Through the search process, Dale displayed enthusiasm and a unique ability to absorb complex information and develop actionable plans that achieve aggressive goals.”

Olds adds, “I commend PPAI and the Executive Search Committee for their commitment to the executive search process. There was a remarkably strong pool of candidates, and the board and Search Committee’s diligence and governance of the process was exceptional.”

“I am very excited to be joining the PPAI team,” says Denham. “I look forward to helping PPAI further expand our leadership role and contributions to the promotional products industry. Having been deeply involved with PPAI for many years, and having served on the PPAI board, my passion for helping PPAI grow, protect and serve our membership will further flourish in my new role.”

Denham adds, “As the promotional products industry evolves and advances, PPAI is in the best position to provide the knowledge, community and advocacy to help our members grow. I am very honored to be a part of PPAI’s legacy and leadership.”

Denham takes on the role as PPAI’s top executive following the March 2021 departure of President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, who had been in the position since 2011. Read more about Denham and his plans for PPAI in PPB’s October cover story. 

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James Khattak is news editor of PPB.