#30 Daron Hines

Staples Promotional Products (asi/120601) – President

2023 Rank: #35

Industry Experience: 3 Years

Previous Appearances on Power 50: 2

Daron Hines continues to gain prominence in promo after entering the industry in 2022. Thanks to his standing as the leader of Staples Promotional Products (the third-largest distributor in the industry) and increased influence among fellow Counselor Power 50 members, Hines jumps up five slots on this year’s list. Not bad for someone who only thought about promotional products tangentially during a two-decade career that included stints at name-brand food companies General Mills, Smucker’s and Morton Salt.

During his tenure, Hines has helped grow revenue while also maintaining a strong focus on sustainability. Not only does Staples Promotional Products have a Silver rating from EcoVadis, it also requires suppliers to undergo the annual assessment, noting in its most recent corporate social responsibility report that its suppliers improved by an average of 11% when reassessed by EcoVadis in 2023.