Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480) is promoting Melissa Ralston to Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Pierre Montaubin to Senior Vice President of Product Management & Sourcing.

The Clearwater, FL-based firm asserted that the moves aim to “help accelerate continued efforts to build a foundation for scalable and sustainable growth.” The promotions are effective Friday, April 2.

Koozie Group has promoted Melissa Ralston and Pierre Montaubin. 

Ralston has been in marketing leadership roles with Koozie Group, formerly known as BIC Graphic North America before changing its name in 2021, since 2014. For the last three years, she has served as the company’s chief marketing officer. Her career in the promotional products industry spans 15 years and has included global leadership roles across marketing, product management/sourcing and sales, executives said.

As CRO, Ralston will take responsibility for Koozie Group’s sales organization, while retaining responsibility for marketing and communications for the entire organization, which includes the recently acquired former Top 40 supplier IMAGEN Brands (asi/62199) and Hotline Products (asi/61960). Strategic selling and channel marketing will continue to be a focus for Koozie Group under Ralston’s leadership, the company said.

“As CMO I have always worked very closely with our sales team and customers to provide strategic marketing support. I’m looking forward to further developing these relationships and expanding the potential for sales growth for both Koozie Group and our distributors,” said Ralston.

Her career track record suggests she’s well-suited to the job.

“Under Melissa’s leadership, our marketing team has driven our strategies forward by developing innovative new products, introducing exclusive brands and launching services that provide distributors with unmatched options for their clients,” said David Klatt, Koozie Group CEO. “In her new role as Chief Revenue Officer, Melissa will continue to support our distributors by further developing our performance-based sales organization.”

During her career, Ralston has worked with brands such as Chris-Craft, Publix Supermarkets and Sports Authority and commercialized products for customers that include Amazon, Macy’s and the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.

Ralston currently serves on ASI Media/Counselor magazine’s Advisory Board and on PPAI’s Strategic Foresight Committee. She’s also the executive sponsor for Koozie Group’s Keep It. Give It. Social Impact & Sustainability task force. 

As for Moutaubin, a key focus of his new senior VP role will be driving innovation with new products and brands across Koozie Group, IMAGEN Brands and Hotline Products. He’ll also see to it that Koozie vendors maintain what the company described as high levels of quality and compliance to the environmental and social standards that Koozie Group expects to be met to ensure an ethical supply chain.

Notably, Montaubin will maintain a general management role for Koozie Group’s Asia sourcing operations. He’ll also continue to serve on the PPAI Product Responsibility Advisory Board. Over the course of his career, Mountaubin has held operational and financial project management roles with BIC, Neuf Telecom and Unilog Management Consulting, and worked with clients that include Louis Vuitton, Gerflor and Riso. 

“Pierre’s 12 years of experience in the industry across sourcing, compliance, logistics and service has proven to be an invaluable asset to the organization,” said Klatt. “With his unique global skill set and breadth of knowledge across multiple disciplines, I am honored to have him join our executive team.”

With reported 2019 North American promotional products revenue of $310.1 million, Koozie Group ranked 7^th on Counselor magazine’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry. The new list is due in summer 2021.