Anne McKeough didn’t just break through the glass ceiling; she shattered it and kept going.

The executive at Staples Promotional Products (SPP, asi/120601) has 20 years of industry experience, starting in a marketing VP role at Corporate Express at a time when some in the space would’ve balked at a woman holding such a pivotal leadership position.

Nothing was going to stop McKeough, though.

“I was the first female member of the executive team,” McKeough says. “Within a year, I was running the sales team as well.”

Witty, smart and strategic, McKeough’s deft execution, genuine care for her team members and downright likeable personality helped her ascend to the vitally important position of VP of sales at SPP in 2008.

Much now rests in McKeough’s capable hands. The mile-logging pro – she travels about 50% of the time – is responsible for spearheading sales strategy. Her approach includes accelerating new business development and winning deeper account penetration for a nine-figure distributorship that’s the second largest in the industry. McKeough is also responsible for recruiting and mentoring top talent, and creating a vision that facilitates the continual enhancement of a platform that supports the needs of today’s high-spend global customers.

She does all that and more with aplomb.

“I love to be challenged – to always raise the bar.” — Anne McKeough

“Anne has one of the most strategic and creative minds that I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” says Rich Witaszak, vice president and general manager at SPP. “She does what it takes to exceed customers’ expectations, and is always willing to go the extra mile to make it happen.”

For McKeough, it’s not work – it’s pleasure. “I love to be challenged – to always raise the bar, to strategize with clients and teammates, and to mentor others to grow and thrive.”