Distributor BrandAlliance (PPAI 188929) is entering the final stages of a two-year implementation for its merger with Activate! Promotions + Marketing. As part of the process, BrandAlliance has initiated a coordinated centralization of its regional leadership across the U.S. and Canada.

The restructure includes a newly formed eastern Canada region comprised of the Toronto and Waterloo, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec offices. It will be led by Ian McLearon, who also leads the U.S. and Canada enterprise accounts division. He will be supported by Lindsay Alcorn, who has been promoted to Canada East regional vice president and will continue to assist McLearon within the enterprise division. The Eastern Canada region will also see the departure of Montreal President Valérie Duchense-Carle, while Toronto President Alan Chippindale will be shifting back to a business development role.

BrandAlliance is also establishing a western Canada region consisting of offices in Calgary, Alberta, and Vancouver and Vernon, British Columbia. The Western Canadian region will be led by Ian Huntley, who has also been named BrandAlliance’s Canadian president. Ian’s new role fills a leadership opening that was left vacant by the departure of Nick Thompson.

The company’s Edmonton, Alberta, office is in the process of closing.

“The idea behind restructuring leadership is one of optimism and ultimately moving forward together as a stronger organization,” says Huntley. “While every move isn’t always going to be the most attention-grabbing or most popular, it’s important that it’s still the right one.”

In the U.S., BrandAlliance’s structure will mirror Canada’s, so the central U.S. region and its employees will now fall under the western U.S. region, which is led by Dave Claunch. Billy Booe will continue to lead the eastern U.S. region.

"This regional realignment and consolidation of leadership will continue to help us realize our goal of a successful merger for all of our stakeholders,” says Fred Parker, CEO of A Brand Company, Activate! Promotions + Marketing's parent company. “If you want to be competitive in this industry, it’s vital to constantly evaluate your company’s way of doing business, which means being open to change.”