The next generation of family leadership is taking the reins at Top 40 distributor Kaeser & Blair (asi/238600).

Mitch and Brad Kaeser have been promoted to the roles of co-CEO. Their father, longtime CEO/president Kurt Kaeser, will continue as chairman of the Ohio-headquartered firm. Brad and Mitch are the fourth generation of Kaesers to lead the 129-year-old company.

The Kaesers – Kurt, Brad and Mitch.

“I’m proud to see the next generation stepping up to lead our family business,” said Kurt Kaeser, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of the promotional products industry’s most influential people.

Kurt continued: “Brad and Mitch bring the experience, talents and perspective that will help us build on the values that have driven our success over the decades, while helping us to continue to evolve into the future.”

Kaeser & Blair has been in continuous operation since 1894. The firm began life as the Cincinnati Printing and Paper Products Co., in Cincinnati, OH. In 1923, Dutch Kaeser and Bill Blair purchased Cincinnati Printing and Paper Products Co. and incorporated the business into what is now known as Kaeser & Blair, Inc.

Kurt Kaeser started working full-time at K&B in 1983. He became the third generation of family leadership in 1996 when he rose to the role of CEO/president of the firm, which supports a network of independent sales representatives/dealers.

Brad and Mitch essentially grew up in the business. They’ve most recently served in positions that include new business development.

Brad, who formally started in order entry back in 2011 and worked his way up, is a graduate of the Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University. He holds a degree in marketing. His time at K&B has included a sharp focus on working with K&B dealers and assisting them through the start-up process, according to a biography from the company.

Mitch, who holds a degree in graphic design from Otterbein University, has formally been with the family distributorship since 2016. Among other things, his focus has been on event planning, including organizing the annual Sales Leader Summit for K&B dealers.

Kurt, Mitch and Brad hold equal ownership in Kaeser & Blair. That arrangement was already in place before the CEO change, the company said.

Based on reported 2021 North American promotional product revenue of $94.8 million, Kaeser & Blair ranked 23^rd on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest distributors in the industry. The new rankings, based on 2022 performance, come out in in July 2023.

The co-CEO announcement comes about a month after K&B made other C-Suite promotions. Liza Sachs, also a Power 50 member, rose to the position of chief revenue officer and Scott Baker became chief operating officer.