S&S Activewear (asi/84358), a billion-dollar company that’s the third largest supplier in the promo products industry, will have a new chief executive officer effective Nov. 1.

The Bolingbrook, IL-headquartered Top 40 firm announced that current President Frank Myers will be taking over the CEO role.

Myers, who has been with S&S since 2009 in positions that include chief financial officer and chief operating officer, is taking over the top executive spot from Jim Shannon.

Frank Myers and Jim Shannon, S&S Activewear

Shannon, Counselor’s 2022 Person of the Year and a member of the Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people, will become vice chairman of the S&S Board of Directors.

“Frank is a seasoned executive,” said Shannon. “His breadth of experience makes him the ideal candidate for overseeing S&S’s next chapter, and I believe there is no one better fit to handle this position. With Frank’s leadership and the combined expertise of the executive team, S&S will continue to provide excellent service to our customers, leading the company into the future.”

Myers said that he feels humbled to be representing S&S and its team members.

“I’m grateful to lead a company with such talented and dedicated employees, and I’m very proud of what we’ve built together over the years,” said Myers.

While Myers is new to the CEO position, he has long been a central leader at S&S Activewear.

Over the last decade, he has played an integral role in the company’s nationwide expansion, which has led to S&S having more than 4 million square feet of warehouse space situated in strategic locations across North America.

Myers has also been a leading figure in the firm’s aggressive yet targeted acquisition strategy, which has enabled S&S to make headline-grabbing company purchases, such as acquiring former Top 40 supplier TSC Apparel and, not long thereafter, TSF Sportswear.

Myers and the leadership team were instrumental in leading S&S through the COVID-19 pandemic and retaining the company’s employees.

“As we move forward, we will remain committed to the values and principles that have served us well in the past,” Myers said. “I believe that maintaining our key relationships and focusing on collaboration will help us achieve our goals more efficiently and effectively.”

In 2021, private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R) became the majority stakeholder in S&S Activewear. Since CD&R acquired the business, S&S has expanded its salesforce, operations staff, and executive team. Myers will lead the business alongside veterans Keith Shannon (chief revenue officer) and Brian Beale (chief technology officer) and newly hired executives Joy Kelly (chief human resources officer) and Christopher Kodosky (chief financial officer).

Shannon will be vice chairman of a board that’s headed by Chairman John Compton, operating partner at CD&R.

“We are thankful for Jim’s stewardship of S&S Activewear,” Compton said. “Jim and his team have built a formidable business with multiple layers of sustainable advantage. We are equally excited to announce the appointment of Frank Myers to CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. Frank has a distinguished track record of success, and we look forward to partnering with him and his team for future growth.”

For sure, Shannon’s legacy at S&S Activewear is assured. He joined the company as a controller 31 years ago when the business was, in the then owner’s words, “a little T-shirt shop.”

Over the years, Shannon was pivotal in building that small business into a formidable regional supplier in the Midwest and then ultimately into what the company is today: An apparel powerhouse with more than 2,500 employees, 80-plus brands on offer, and a broad reach throughout the North American promo market. Shannon was S&S’s longtime president before becoming CEO last year.

“This (growth) is thanks in large part to Jim Shannon, who has been essential in spearheading the company’s success,” S&S said in statement. “Over his 30-year tenure at the company, he has built the S&S name as a customer, employee and vendor partner.”

Based on estimated 2021 North American promo product revenue of $1.51 billion, S&S Activewear ranked third on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.