There’s a new executive in the C-suite at Top 40 promotional products distributor AIA Corporation (asi/109480).

The Appleton, WI-headquartered company has hired Cynthia Kopesky as senior vice president of finance.

Cynthia Kopesky, AIA

Reporting to CEO Nancy Schmidt, Kopesky now holds direct responsibility for the firm’s accounting, finance, forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning, deal analysis and negotiations. She’ll be part of AIA’s executive leadership team and will spearhead all financial-related activities.

“I am thrilled to welcome Cynthia to AIA,” said Schmidt, a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “Her previous experience will add tremendous value to help AIA continue to protect the company’s asset position and manage our working capital to empower the success of our growing owner community.”

Kopesky most recently was chief financial officer of Green Bay, WI-based Eillien’s Candies, a family-owned business with more than 60 years of history in the candy and snack business. Prior to that, she was CFO of stone supplier Eden-Valders Stone. Kopesky spent more than seven years in financial leadership roles at family-owned Briess Malt & Ingredients Co., where she was lastly vice president/CFO.  

In such roles, Kopesky improved the companies’ financial standings through strategic development, long-term financial planning, and process improvement and optimization of enterprise resource planning systems that helped streamline operations and reduce costs, AIA said.

“Not only is Cynthia a trusted, collaborative and strategic partner, but she understands the entrepreneurs’ journey, having worked for many family-owned businesses in a financial capacity,” noted Schmidt.

Kopesky holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Prior to becoming a financial executive, she spent two decades traveling the world, including six years living with her family in Kenya, Istanbul and the United Arab Emirates.

“My travels have helped shape who I am as a business leader, allowing me to relate to all types of people and cultures, to embrace change and not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone,” said Kopesky.

AIA said that the senior vice president of finance position has been open since Schmidt became CEO in spring 2020.

Based on reported fiscal year 2020 North American promotional product revenue of $146.2 million, AIA ranked 16^th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest distributors in the industry.