Top 40 supplier HUB Promotional Group (HPG; asi/61966) said early Wednesday that Chris Anderson will become its new CEO effective Friday. Longtime HPG executive Joe Fleming, who ranked in the top 20 on Counselor's most recent Power 50 list, has resigned as CEO. Fleming will remain active with the Braintree, MA-based supplier as a shareholder and member of the board of directors.

Podcast

The newly-appointed CEO of Top 40 supplier HUB Promotional Group discusses everything from the opportunities that come with strategic market disruption to the supplier’s plans to leverage technology, product innovation and a North America-wide facility footprint to grow faster and bigger than competitors.

Anderson will now be responsible for all day-to-day operations and decision-making at HPG. He has been serving as chief operating officer for HPG for about six months, following the firm’s late December acquisition of HandStands (asi/59525), a Salt Lake City, UT-based supplier for which Anderson was most recently chairman. During his approximately 16 years at HandStands, Anderson’s other roles included CEO, president and vice president of sales.

“Chris is a natural leader that has the vision and drive to take Hub Promotional Group to the next level,” Jason Lucash, an HPG board member and its senior VP of marketing and product, told Counselor. “Through his past experience leading Handstands through two acquisitions, one to Energizer in 2016, and then a second one to Hub Promotional Group in 2018, the board feels very confident in his abilities to continue to grow HPG.”

Jason Lucash, HPG

Excited about HPG’s future, Anderson told Counselor that the firm’s focus will include leveraging its coast-to-coast North American operations and smart technology to provide rapid, high quality, friction-free service and fulfillment for customers. Innovating in current product categories (including drinkware, tech accessories, bags and writing instruments), expanding into new complementary product categories, and thoughtful yet aggressive pursuit of additional strategic acquisitions are also in the cards, Anderson said.

“My vision for HPG is 100% aligned with our talented leadership team, and together we will continue to deliver on our promise of exceptional products, service and value,” said Anderson. “The future is bright for Hub Promotional Group -- and for its customers, employees and suppliers alike.”

In a statement, Fleming said that now was the right time for him to move on – and that HPG is strongly positioned to excel under Anderson. “After more than 30-years devoted to the growth, care and well-being of HUB, it is time for me to pursue other goals and hand the reins to the next generation of leaders,” said Fleming, who last year placed 19^th on Counselor’s Power 50, a definitive ranking of the most influential people in the promotional products industry. “In his first six months as COO, Chris has earned the respect of our entire team and exhibited the passion and wisdom necessary for us to realize the shared vision we all have for HPG. HPG has a fantastic leadership team, and it will continue to grow and delight customers.”

Joe Fleming

HPG executives praised Fleming for his work at the firm. “I have acquired a deep appreciation for the culture developed by Joe and the HPG Team, which provides a tremendous foundation from which to further build and grow this great company,” Anderson said. “We are all grateful to Joe for his decades of service in leading HPG to this point. From here, we will continue to improve and innovate to drive profitable growth for our customers.”

Of late, HPG has been active making moves in the promo space. Just three months before buying HandStands in December, the company acquired Origaudio (asi/75254), a California-based supplier that specializes in technology and lifestyle products – and, notably, a firm that has been one of the promo industry’s fastest-growing suppliers and a frequent winner of Counselor Design Awards in recent years.

The September 2018 acquisition of Origaudio was announced just days after HPG revealed that it had purchased Canada-based BCG Creations (asi/37693). Founded in 1981, BCG is known for its emblematics and wood products. Meanwhile, HandStands, established in 1983, was one of the first companies to introduce mouse pads to the promo marketplace, executives said. These days, the company offers a spectrum of promotional products.

HPG’s portfolio of brands additionally features HUB Pen, Beacon Promotions (asi/39250), Best USA (asi/40344)/Cooler Graphics (asi/80345), and Debco (asi/48885). HPG acquired Debco in 2018; Best Promotions and Cooler Graphics in 2017; and Beacon Promotions in 2017.

Propelled by organic growth and acquisitions, HPG’s total North American promotional product revenue for 2018 was nearly $198 million – up almost double from 2017’s $103.5 million, company executives told Counselor. Based on the 2017 revenue tally, HPG ranked 15^th on Counselor’s list of the largest suppliers in the industry. The new list debuts in July.