Top 40 supplier Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) has hired an experienced promo executive to be its new chief digital officer. Rob Watson joins the New Jersey-headquartered firm having most recently served as vice president of e-commerce and marketing for Top 40 distributor Axis Promotions (asi/128263).

[At left] Rob Watson, Chief Digital Officer, Vantage Apparel; [At right] Ira Neaman, President, Vantage Apparel

“We are thrilled to add Rob as a resource and company leader,” said Ira Neaman, president of Vantage Apparel. “His expertise and market knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to transform our business and support customers in their digital growth.”

As chief digital officer, Watson will carry considerable responsibility, spearheading Vantage’s sales and marketing efforts and leading the firm’s overall digital strategy.

“I’m excited to work with the team in this new cross-functional role,” said Watson. “Vantage has always been a leader in the promotional apparel space, and is uniquely positioned to support the fast-paced direction of customization in our industry.”

A graduate of James Madison University where his activities included being president of the International Association of Business Communicators, Watson was ASI’s senior vice president of marketing and user experience for nearly six years. He was also chief global marketing officer, and later managing director, at promo firm Outstanding Branding (asi/288519). Watson is a former president of supplier MediaTree (asi/70303), too.

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $49.6 million, Vantage Apparel ranked 31st on Counselor’s latest list of the largest suppliers in the industry. Founded in 1977, Vantage Apparel’s custom logo apparel offerings include Polo Ralph Lauren and the Greg Norman Collection, as well as proprietary labels like Vantage and Vansport. An award-winning apparel decorator, the supplier’s large in-house decoration operation is powered by more than 1,200 embroidery heads.