DMA Shuffle Adds Two Executive VPs

In a move that adds two layers to the executive ranks of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the membership organization on June 30 announced it was adding two executive vice president positions that will report to DMA president/CEO John A. Greco, Jr.

Among the leadership posts is the newly created position of executive vice president of government and consumer affairs, which will oversee DMA’s work in legislative and regulatory affairs as well as ethics and consumer relations. Jerry Cerasale, senior vice president of government affairs and Pat Kachura, senior vice president ethics and consumer affairs–both based in Washington–will report to the as yet unnamed executive for which the DMA is conducting an executive search. No time frame was given.

Dr. Ramesh Lakshmi-Ratan, the DMA’s senior vice president, membership and market development, will assume the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer. In this new role, Ratan will head the following DMA units: education and events, membership development, marketing and communications, international, member councils and customer service, DMA nonprofit federation, research and market intelligence, interactive and emerging media, and the newly formed sales and business development unit.

The DMA had announced on June 21 that Terri L. Bartlett, former executive director of the Toy Industry Foundation, will become president of the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) on July 31.

Marcel Schloss, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will continue to be responsible for DMA’s financial, information technology, and human resources functions. Frank Rigano, president of Interactive Marketing Solutions (IMS), a DMA subsidiary, will continue in his role.

Also, DMA Board Administration & Support and the remainder of the Executive Office will continue in their respective roles. Each of these areas will report directly to Greco.