The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) has unveiled a new look alongside the announcement of its new board and chairman.

The modern reworking of its logo will underpin all future marketing materials for members, buyers, research, training and other communications.

BPMA board member Stephen Barker said: “This is an opportunity to refresh the BPMA brand in line with our greater emphasis on professional standards, the recent launch of the BPMA educational Academy, and our wider and recognisable work within our industry.”

At its annual general meeting at the National Incentive Show at Birmingham NEC this week, the BPMA also elected Gill Thorpe (pictured) as chairman, taking over from David Lebond who has become president.

Thorpe presented a new vision for the trade association, including its objective to move towards covering every aspect of the supply chain from manufacturers to distributors to end users. This follows the decision not to merge with trade-only association PROMOTA and the shifting of the BPMA Awards from Christmas to next year’s Trade Only exhibition.

Thorpe also set out the BPMA’s commitment to grow and nurture its Academy to provide training across the industry. The BPMA will also provide a “robust procurement support system to cover all members and serve the industry”.

Thorpe, who was previously vice-chair, has 23 years of experience in the promotional marketing and product sourcing industry. She has been a board member of the BPMA for the past 14 years and has headed sourcing company The Sourcing Team since founding it over 12 years ago.

Lebond said: “I couldn’t be handing over the mantle of chair to better hands. Gill is an individual who I believe has no equal in her understanding and support of the BPMA and her knowledge and expertise, particularly on sourcing and procurement will be an asset to the BPMA, all its members and the industry.”

The board of directors was further strengthened with the addition of Andrew Hill of Senator Pens, Graham Winter of PF Concepts, and Ian Allchild of IA Consultancy and the founder of several of the industry’s leading exhibitions over the past 30 years.

The agenda of both Hill and Winter will be to strengthen the BPMA’s trade side of the association, while Allchild will provide his expertise as an industry and exhibition specialist.