ASI announces CEO retirement & transition plan

Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), a provider of technology, data, and education for the promotional products industry, announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy Andrews will retire from the company at the end of March 2026 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 family has engaged Russell Reynolds Associates, a CEO search firm, 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.

Norman Cohn, chairman of ASI and an industry veteran of 75 years, praised Andrews and emphasized the family’s commitment to ASI’s future.

“Our family loves this industry and ASI. 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,” said Cohn. “We will work hard to find the very best leader for the next chapter of ASI and the industry. Tim has been the fifth president in ASI’s history, and each new president has built on the foundation of the past. I am confident that tradition will continue, and that The Best Is Yet To Come! We look forward to celebrating Tim’s many accomplishments in the future as he gets closer to his retirement from ASI.”

“Leading ASI for the past 23 years has been the honor of my professional life,” stated Andrews. “ASI leads the industry in innovation, and we have many initiatives underway to help members grow their businesses. The new ESP+ platform is transforming how our members do business, with even more advancements coming in the year ahead. I look forward to continuing to lead ASI, support our industry, and ensure a smooth transition to the next leader.”

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. Matthew Cohn and Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer have been actively engaged in guiding the company’s future. Over the past year, Matthew Cohn and Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer led an extensive succession planning process, interviewing multiple firms and consulting with dozens of experts before selecting Russell Reynolds Associates for its deep expertise in family business, media, and technology companies.

Matthew Cohn and Stephanie Cohn Schaeffer commented on their great working relationship with Andrews and their excitement for the future: “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. 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.”

Andrews will continue to lead ASI and represent the company across the industry until his successor is named and fully onboarded.