The Vernon Company announced Chris Vernon, President & Chief
Operating Officer of The Vernon Company, has been promoted to President & Co-Chief
Executive Officer effective July 1, 2014. Chris will retain the position of President and
continue to be active in daily business operations across all Vernon operating divisions.
William F. (Bill) Vernon will continue as the company’s Chairman and serve as Co-Chief
Executive Officer.
Chris Vernon has been with the company since 1987 and has held various
responsibilities in sales and marketing. He was appointed to President and Chief
Operating Officer in 1999. He is a graduate of Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Illinois,
and has an undergraduate degree in political science and a master’s degree in business
administration (Kellogg Graduate School of Management) from Northwestern
University in Evanston, Illinois. He worked for Harris/Lanier Corporation for three years
prior to joining Vernon.
Bill Vernon is the third generation of family management and ownership. He joined the
company in 1956 after serving in the United States military and began working in sales
and marketing. He was named President of The Vernon Company in 1969 and later
Chairman and CEO after his father’s death in 1974. He has received numerous honors
for his dedication to the growth of the promotional product industry.
“This is another step in our orderly succession planning & leadership transition process
that has been occurring the past several decades,” stated Bill Vernon. “Chris has proven
himself as an effective leader during good and tough business cycles. He has also built
an outstanding executive and administrative team which we are very proud of. They
have been key in the management and growth of our business in the promotional
product and graphics markets.”