GeigerBTC, the U.K. division of Top 40 distributor Geiger (asi/202900), is adding talent to its team. The distributorship announced Tuesday that Laura Brannan has come aboard as Supplier Relationship Manager. She’ll be working closely with Jason Darbyshire, who joined GeigerBTC as marketing director in the autumn of 2018, the company said.

“The first year with GeigerBTC has exceeded our expectations,” said Geiger President Jo-an Lantz, noting that business was up about 40% when 10% was the goal at the outset. “Having Laura join the management team expands their ability to support rapid growth. Her experience, coupled with her colleagues, sets up BTC well for continued excellence.”

Laura Brannan and Jason Darbyshire of GeigerBTC

Between 2013 and March this year, Brannan was program merchandiser for Marke Creative Merchandise in the U.K. In the role, she was responsible for product sourcing and development for in-stock and non-stock merchandise programs. With GeigerBTC, Brannan’s focus will be on building and maintaining stronger supplier relationships.

“We have great suppliers who give us amazing support, and with Laura on board, we can now take our supplier relationships to a new level,” said Darbyshire.

Brannan is excited to help fuel success through her new role. “I look forward to building collaborative relationships with our suppliers so that GeigerBTC becomes a company which, through its practices, positions itself to receive the best access to ideas, resources and innovations from its suppliers -- and that will ensure that we continue to offer the best service to our clients,” she said.

Darbyshire joined GeigerBTC in October 2018. His background includes more than 20 years of experience as a marketing manager/director for firms in the workplace safety market, which included a focus on branded workwear.

Based in Lewiston, ME, Geiger acquired the then-named BTC Group in March 2018 and rebranded the U.K. firm GeigerBTC. In January, Geiger announced that GeigerBTC acquired London-based firm EMC Advertising Gifts. The news followed fast on the heels of U.S.-based Geiger’s acquisition of CM Promotions.

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $185.5 million, Geiger ranked 10^th on Counselor’s latest list of the largest distributors in the industry.