BAMKO (asi/131431) says it’s gearing up for a strategic expansion into the commercial print market; the Los Angeles-headquartered promo firm has tapped Michael O’Neal to spearhead the effort.
BAMKO has hired O’Neal as vice president of enterprise accounts – a role in which he’ll place a particular focus on developing and scaling the distributorship’s commercial print business. This will include “optimizing and streamlining” BAMKO’s solutions for the vertical with both new and existing clients, executives said.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the BAMKO team,” said BAMKO President Jake Himelstein, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “His proven track record in the commercial print industry, combined with his strategic vision and leadership skills, make him the ideal candidate to lead our expansion into this exciting market.”
Prior to joining BAMKO, O’Neal was a senior vice president with Top 40 distributor HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000) – where he worked for more than three years. O’Neal also spent the better part of a decade with InnerWorkings, a former Top 40 firm that was acquired by current Top 40 distributor HH Global (asi/168860) in 2020. He was a professional golfer for a time too, playing on the PGA Tour Canada.
BAMKO said O’Neal, described as a subject matter expert in commercial printing, has a strong track record of driving revenue growth, improving sales processes and fueling productivity – something the firm expects he’ll continue in his new role.
“BAMKO’s expansion into commercial print marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory,” the firm said. “By combining its established expertise in branded merchandise with O’Neal’s thought leadership in commercial print, BAMKO is well-positioned to offer clients a comprehensive suite of marketing solutions.”
BAMKO’s annual sales declined 12% in 2023, but the firm returned to growth in the first quarter of 2024. Based on reported 2022 North American promotional product revenue of $387.9 million, BAMKO ranked eighth on Counselor’s list of the largest distributors in the industry. The new list debuts this summer.