PPAI has announced the appointment of Christopher Cheney as its new chief operations officer – a newly created role for the Association and a significant step in its ongoing transformation, which began with the hiring of President and CEO Drew Holmgreen in December.
Christopher Cheney
COO, PPAI
The addition of Cheney finalizes Holmgreen’s executive team, which also includes Chief Revenue and Experience Officer Ellen Tucker, MAS, CAE, and Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Ralston, who joined PPAI earlier in July.
Cheney officially begins his new role on July 28, bringing with him promotional products market experience and more than 20 years of senior leadership across multiple industries, including workforce engagement, supply chain, financial services, manufacturing and healthcare.
He most recently served as Chief Operations and Human Resources Officer at promo solutions provider C.A. Short, where he led the transition of the privately held firm into a scalable SaaS-based model – combining platform innovation with a client-centric service approach.
At PPAI, Cheney will oversee the human resources, finance and technology departments. He will report directly to President and CEO Drew Holmgreen, who says the Association is “absolutely thrilled” to add Cheney following an extensive search.
“Christopher has been deeply connected to this industry for over 20 years, and his reputation as a strong culture builder and exceptional leader speaks for itself,” Holmgreen says. “He understands the heart of this community and the joy our industry creates globally. With Christopher on board, we’re solidifying an already incredible executive team – one that’s fully focused on serving our members, elevating branded merch and shaping the future of this industry together.”
Drew Holmgreen
President & CEO, PPAI
Cheney has longstanding familiarity with the Association and the industry, having led promo companies and attended The PPAI Expo in the past.
“As I took a closer look, I was genuinely impressed by the breadth of services, marketing resources and educational opportunities PPAI offers – far more extensive than I previously realized,” Cheney says.
He says he recognized an opportunity to align his experience in business transformation and scalable growth with PPAI’s strategic direction.
“My first step will be to roll up my sleeves, immerse myself in the day-to-day and engage directly with staff and members to gain a true understanding of the operations, people and challenges,” he says. “Only then can we identify what actions are needed to deliver the outcomes PPAI is striving for.”
In a new role for the Association, Cheney sees his job as one focused on “Service & Business Excellence.” He says that includes:
- Delivering superior service
- Treating people with the respect and attention we’d expect ourselves
- Offering technology and solutions that drive real value
- Modernizing capabilities and operations
- Continuously refining business practices and policies
“By focusing on these principles,” Cheney says, “members will experience a more responsive, efficient and value-driven association – one that’s built to support their success now and into the future.”
Cheney lives in the Fort Worth area with his wife and daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, woodworking and fishing, and is a proud supporter of Texas Christian University sports.
