Key Takeaways
• Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) has named Nikki Stella CEO.
• Stella succeeds Rob Watson, who was the CEO of Vantage until he passed away suddenly in August.
• Stella brings extensive promo industry leadership experience, including roles at ASI, Altitude Group/AIM Smarter (asi/522700) and NAPCO Media.
The death of Vantage Apparel (asi/93390) CEO Rob Watson in August shook the supplier to its core. Now, the Counselor Top 40 company has named Nikki Stella as its CEO to build on Watson’s legacy and guide Vantage into its next chapter.
“Rob was a respected colleague and friend who built something special at Vantage. I step into this role with deep respect for his legacy and the people who have helped shape this company,” said Stella. “Vantage has an incredible history, talented people and a strong position in the industry. I look forward to working alongside the team and building upon Vantage’s success, embracing new opportunities and leveraging technology and innovation to accelerate growth and shape Vantage’s next chapter.”
Stella most recently was with ASI as the company’s senior VP of strategic relationships and initiatives. Before that, she served as CEO of U.K.-based Altitude Group and its U.S. distributor company AIM Smarter (asi/522700). Earlier in her career, Stella spent more than a decade at NAPCO Media, holding multiple leadership roles and eventually becoming group president of Promo Marketing. She worked collaboratively with PRINTING United Alliance following its acquisition of NAPCO.
Stella has also been named multiple times to the Counselor Power 50 list of the most influential people in the industry, most recently in 2023.
Watson, a Counselor Power 50 member, had been the CEO of Vantage for nearly four years – and served an additional two years at the company from 2018-2020 – until his sudden passing on August 21. During his tenure, Vantage forged partnerships with a number of industry companies, tripled its direct-to-film capacity and embraced print on demand, particularly through the launch of a web store platform earlier this year.
“Rob meant so much to this company and his contributions to Vantage and our industry will not be forgotten,” said Ira Neaman, executive chairman of Vantage and also a Counselor Power 50 member. “As we navigate this transition, our responsibility is to ensure that Vantage remains strong, continues to evolve and is well-positioned for the future. Nikki brings tremendous depth of industry knowledge, proven leadership experience and a strategic perspective that will be invaluable as we move forward.”
Based on North American promotional products revenue of $64 million, Vantage Apparel ranks 29th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.
