Dawn Olds, the new CEO of the American promotional products association, the PPAI.
USA – The American promotional products association, PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) announced on July 17, 2024 that its former Chairman, Dawn Olds, has been appointed as the Interim President and CEO of the PPAI. Olds will run the association during the ongoing change-over process of the top management position, Dale Denham had previously held the post of Interim President since August 2021.
The CEO of the PPAI will be elected by the PPAI board of directors, which comprises of eleven experts from the member companies, who work for the PPAI on a voluntary basis. Olds is the first woman to run the association in its 121-year history. Old’s spent 35 years of her career up until her retirement at Halo, one of the leading American promotional products distributors, most recently as Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and DEI. As a long-standing volunteer, Olds was a member of the PPAI Board from January 2020 until January 2024 and was Chairman from January 2022 until the PPAI Expo 2023.
“I am honoured that the PPAI Board trusts me to take on the responsibility of upholding PPAI’s values during this important time of transition,” Olds stated. “My appreciation and respect for PPAI staff has always been immense and grew further during my service on the Board. I am committed to working closely with our entire staff to ensure each person has the support needed to do their best work to provide excellent service to PPAI members and stakeholders.”
Olds will be supported by the long-standing employee and Vice President of Revenue and Expositions, Ellen Tucker, who has already been working for the association since 2014. According to Tucker, together with the remaining association employees, the PPAI will continue to concentrate on strategic goals for the promotional products industry.
