#1 Jeremy Lott

SanMar (asi/84863) – President/CEO

2021 Rank: #4

Industry Experience: 21 years

Previous Appearances on Power 50: 9

After dropping slightly on last year’s list, Lott is back on top of the Counselor Power 50, reclaiming the title of most powerful person in the promotional products industry. It’s no surprise, considering Lott oversees the multibillion-dollar apparel juggernaut that is promo’s largest supplier.

With Lott, however, it’s not simply a case of running the largest company in the industry. This second-generation leader (his father, Marty, founded SanMar in 1971) has embraced his influential role by frequently weighing in on pressing industry topics, and has emerged as a grounded voice who can unpack big-picture trends and speak honestly about industry-wide challenges.

Moreover, under Lott’s leadership, SanMar’s leading-edge sustainability and social responsibility initiatives have created a model that the promo industry can aspire to. A member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, SanMar recently announced Science-Based Targets to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. The supplier is also focused on empowering its people – making significant investments in a Honduran school near its manufacturing facilities and supporting initiatives to promote economic opportunity in Central America.

And perhaps most impressively, Lott continues to elevate the style and standing of promotional apparel as well as the reach of his company without letting it lose its family-business feel, no matter how large it grows.