Catherine Kruse is back.

The experienced promo products executive has rejoined Top 40 distributor iPROMOTEu (asi/232119) and is now vice president of global sourcing solutions.

The position sees Kruse take over a new division of iPROMOTEu that will help the Wayland, MA-headquartered distributorship’s affiliates with sourcing products from vetted, reliable vendors.

Catherine Kruse, iPROMOTEu

“iPROMOTEu Global Sourcing Solutions will provide education, direction and a higher level of support for affiliates regarding their import projects,” Kruse explained. “Not only will my focus be on providing affiliates with resources to grow their business, but also on helping them navigate the challenges within our industry’s supply chain.”

iPROMOTEu said that Kruse has more than 20 years of experience in product development and international sourcing. She was vice president of vendor relations at iPROMOTEu from the summer of 2016 to the summer of 2020. She subsequently spent about a year at Implement Now, a Nashville, TN-based firm that partners with entrepreneurs, retail brands and corporations to develop products.

Still, Kruse found herself missing iPROMOTEu and its distributor affiliates.

“I feel like I’m returning home to family,” said Kruse, whose resume also includes having served as vice president of special markets for supplier Norwood, which was acquired in 2009 by the Top 40 supplier now known as Koozie Group (asi/40480). 

iPROMOTEu is happy to have Kruse back.

“Catherine has a well-earned reputation for integrity and professionalism and, as a result, she has established and successfully nurtured many valuable relationships with respected and reliable overseas manufacturers and importers,” said Ross Silverstein, president/CEO of iPROMOTEu and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of the industry’s most influential people.

Silverstein added: “iPROMOTEu Global Sourcing Solutions will be an important value-added benefit for our affiliates, and I can’t imagine a more qualified person to lead this initiative.”

iPROMOTEu counts more than 1,100 promo distributor owners and salespeople among its affiliate network. With reported 2020 North American promotional product revenue of $165 million, the company ranked 14^th on Counselor’s most recent list of the industry’s largest distributors.