The Global Business Alliance (GBA) has announced that Nancy McLernon will be retiring as president and CEO at the end of the year. McLernon, who founded GBA in 1990, has grown the organization from less than a dozen members to an influential voice for over 200 global brands, including Anheuser-Busch, BP, and LEGO.
Jonathan Samford, the current executive vice president, has been selected to succeed McLernon starting on January 1, 2025. Before joining GBA in 2013, Samford worked on Capitol Hill, including serving as deputy press secretary in the office of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Scott Pearce will be taking over as the next president of the Cigar Association of America, starting his new role at the end of May. Pearce was previously the executive director of the Premium Cigar Association.
Jeffrey Britt has joined the YMCA of the USA as the senior vice president and chief government affairs officer. Britt most recently held the position of senior vice president at McGuireWoods Consulting.
Cait DeBaun has been appointed as the vice president and head of public affairs at the American Beverage Association. She previously served as the vice president of strategic communication and responsibility at
