Vantage Apparel (PPAI 113235, S10) – ranked the No. 17 supplier in this year’s PPAI 100 – has announced that Rob Watson has returned to the Avenel, New Jersey-based company as CEO.

Ira Neaman, MAS, founder and president/CEO of Vantage Apparel, is transitioning to the role of president/executive chairman to focus on the company’s vision, strategy and continued business development.

“Rob's return to Vantage Apparel as CEO is an exciting development for our company,” Neaman says. “Rob’s extensive industry experience, combined with his prior contributions to our organization, positions him to lead Vantage to new heights. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to provide our customers with the highest-quality promotional apparel and new, innovative services.”

Global Expansion

With more than 20 years of experience in the promotional products industry, Watson has held leadership roles at several firms, most recently serving as vice president at Tempe, Arizona-based Zing Manufacturing (PPAI 517185, S7). 

“Vantage has a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation and exceptional decoration services, and I'm committed to building on that legacy,” Watson says. “We have an exciting journey ahead, and I look forward to collaborating with our team and our distributor partners to drive our company forward in the industry.”

Under Watson’s direction, Vantage's global footprint – through its 2021 acquisition of Lynka, a full-service European corporate apparel supplier – will be a major strategic focus for the company.

• John Lynch will continue as president of Lynka and “help strengthen the vision of continued international programming for the network of companies.”

Watson’s Background

"Rob brings the unique skill sets of both technological prowess and a deep knowledge of our industry, as well as superb leadership and communication skills," Neaman says.

In his previous role at Vantage as chief experience officer, Watson played a pivotal role in enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations and driving business development initiatives. 

He has also served as:

• managing director at Holland, Ohio-based The Image Group (PPAI 103424, D10) – ranked the No. 41 distributor in the PPAI 100;
• chief marketing officer at New York City-based Axis Promotions, which was acquired by HALO (PPAI 106462, D15) – promo’s second leading distributor in the PPAI 100 – in 2020;
• president at Parsippany, New Jersey-based MediaTree (PPAI 192068, S6);
• managing director at U.K.-based distributor Outstanding Branding;
• and senior vice president of marketing and user experience at the Advertising Specialty Institute, a Trevose, Pennsylvania-based business services firm.

Written by: John Corrigan

Published with Permission from PPAI