Superior Group Of Companies Announces New Strategy Officer And BAMKO President

Last week, Superior Group of Companies, Inc., which operates in the promotional products market through distributors BAMKO (PPAI 242148, D11), Tangerine Promotions, Ltd. (PPAI 439779, D1) and Public Identity, Inc. (PPAI 230372, D1), announced two promotions among its executive team, effective immediately. As first reported on Friday in a PPB Newslink Breaking News alert, Philip Koosed, founder and president of BAMKO, has been promoted to chief strategy officer of Superior Group of Companies. Jake Himelstein, who has served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer of BAMKO, has been promoted to president of BAMKO.

“This is an important and momentous day for Phil, Jake and the entire company,” says Michael Benstock, CEO of SGC. “In welcoming a new member into the C-Suite, we are bringing in a dynamic leader with a proven track record of growth, vision and an ability to execute.”

BAMKO has registered significant growth over the past few years, and its track record of growth and innovation reportedly did not go unnoticed with SGC leadership. The concentration of top management talent at BAMKO created an opportunity to spread their influence across SGC.

In his role as chief strategy officer, Koosed will be supporting all of SGC, including BAMKO, by providing strategic guidance and execution for the largest growth opportunities within the business. “What Phil, Jake and our team have accomplished at BAMKO these last few years has been phenomenal,” adds Benstock. “Phil’s elevation, while deserved in its own right, has been made possible by Jake’s emergence as an invaluable leader within the branded merchandise segment over the past few years.”

Koosed’s taking on a strategy role at SGC gives both him and BAMKO a greater opportunity to make an impact on the direction of SGC. He will continue to be involved in BAMKO’s business in a way very similar to what his role has been the last couple of years while also having the opportunity to impact growth and strategy within SGC’s other divisions.

Koosed says, “I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to become the chief strategy officer for SGC and look forward to helping propel SGC into its second 100 years of exemplary growth and value. BAMKO has been my life’s work and I will continue to play a key role in the vision and evolution of that business as well as all of SGC’s business units. I cannot wait to bring the spirit of growth, transformation and fun that we have had at BAMKO to the future that we are all going to build together here at SGC.”

He adds, “As excited as I am for my new role at SGC, I think I’m even more excited to see the impact that Jake is going to have in his new role as president. He has earned this opportunity and I feel so fortunate to be able to hand over the reins to such a capable, proven and effective leader. This day has been a long time coming and it puts both Jake and me in a position where we are able to make our biggest impact and maximize the growth, success and joy we will be able to create at BAMKO in the years to come.”

Himelstein has been operating as the day-to-day leader within BAMKO over the past couple of years, says a source, freeing Koosed to focus on the company’s larger growth strategy. Koosed’s move to a new role within SGC formalizes Himelstein’s position within BAMKO and expands his platform to make an impact on the business.

About his new role as president, Himelstein says, “I cannot hide my excitement over the future we have in store here at BAMKO. With Phil leading up the most important growth initiatives at SGC, I feel like we’ve got the backing and support we need to turbocharge the next chapter in the BAMKO journey. I’m so appreciative of the team and culture that Phil has built here. I cannot imagine stepping into a more favorable situation as a new president. I know this company, I know our people, I know our values and I know what we will achieve together.”

According to a BAMKO source, this transition has quietly been underway for six months and will have little impact on the day-to-day operations at the distributor.