49. Neil Ringel

Polyconcept (asi/78897)

2020 Rank: N/A

Title: CEO

Industry Experience: 2 years

As the head of the industry’s largest global hard-goods supplier (operating in five continents), Ringel stepped into the role in 2019 after spending 23 years at Staples Inc., in the office products side of the business. With former PCNA President David Nicholson, who previously held a spot on the Counselor Power 50, now holding a more consultative role with the company, Ringel oversees PCNA’s North American entities – Leed’s, ETS Express, JournalBooks, Trimark and Bullet Line – as well as PFConcept, the company’s European arm. In 2020, Ringel made the calculated though curious decision not to leverage Polyconcept’s significant sourcing channels to import PPE during the pandemic, and PCNA’s sales dropped $306 million in 2020.

That said, the company has brought in some well-regarded retail lines this year like JanSport, mophie, Bose, Moop, UNTUCKit and the sustainable brand, Tentree. Ringel also advocated for the purchase, under the PFConcept brand, of T-shirt & Sons, one of the largest digital printing and fulfillment companies in Europe. Ringel maintains that by sticking to the company’s core competencies – service, inventory, design, decoration and streamlined order processes – sales will rebound, predicting that the company’s North American promo revenue “will be approximately $624 million,” well above the $512 million at which it ended 2020. Ringel has also shaken up PCNA’s management team, bringing in new vice presidents of sales and marketing and new chiefs of revenue and merchandising, among others, some of whom followed him from Staples. It’s a lot of change for a company known for its stalwart staff and consistency in the marketplace, and the industry is watching for Polyconcept’s – and Ringel’s – next move.