Advertising Specialty Institute has announced that president and CEO Tim Andrews will retire from the company at the end of March after 23 years of leadership.
The Cohn family, owners of ASI, and Andrews have agreed on the transition timing and are working closely together to ensure a seamless process, the company says. The family has engaged Russell Reynolds Associates to lead the process of finding the next CEO for the ASI Family of Companies, which includes ASI, The ASI Show, ASI Canada, ASI Computer Systems and Print + Promo Marketing.
“Leading ASI for the past 23 years has been the honor of my professional life,” Andrews says. “I look forward to continuing to lead ASI, support our industry and ensure a smooth transition to the next leader.”
Tim Andrews
President/CEO, ASI
PPAI President and CEO Drew Holmgreen says Andrews has been a tremendous force in advancing the promotional merch industry.
“Tim has been gracious and welcoming as I’ve stepped into this industry, and I’ve valued the opportunities we’ve had to connect and collaborate in ways that elevate merch,” Holmgreen says. “While our organizations play different roles in the marketplace, I’ve always respected Tim’s commitment to innovation and his passion for the community we share. His leadership has brought real joy to the way our industry connects brands and people, and I wish him every success as he looks ahead to this next chapter.”
Drew Holmgreen
PPAI President & CEO
‘Next Chapter’
Andrews has been the fifth president in ASI’s history, and each new president has built on the foundation of the past, according to Norman Cohn, chairman of ASI and an industry veteran of 75 years.
“Tim has been a great leader for ASI for more than two decades, and it’s important for everyone to know that he will continue leading the company until the next leader is onboarded,” Cohn says. “We’ll work hard to find the very best leader for the next chapter of ASI and the industry.”
Norman Cohn
Chairman, ASI
ASI will continue under long-term Cohn family ownership, in its third generation of leadership, with members of the fourth generation now working at ASI. Over the past year, Matthew Cohn and Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer have led an extensive succession planning process, interviewing multiple firms and consulting with dozens of experts before selecting Russell Reynolds Associates.
“When we selected Tim to join ASI as president, we immediately knew that he would be a great leader and ideal partner for our family,” Matthew and Stephanie say. “We are excited to be looking for the next leader for ASI and know that they will help take ASI and the industry to exciting new heights in the years to come.”
