Derek Miller named the president of IHA

Derek Miller has been named the president of the International Housewares Association, succeeding Phil Brandl who will retire at the end the year. Miller, currently IHA’s vice president, global marketing, will assume the role of president from October 1. Brandl will remain at IHA through December 31. Miller’s selection was by a unanimous vote of the IHA executive committee.

“We have a great staff and senior management team at IHA, and Derek has been an incredibly integral part of that for a long time,” Brandl said while making the announcement. “I congratulate Derek and believe he’s a great choice to lead the IHA organisation. Quite frankly, this is a compliment and vote of confidence to the entire IHA team.”

“Having worked in housewares for more than 22 years, I am extremely pleased to continue serving the industry, the International Home + Housewares Show and the IHA through this new position,” Miller expressed. “I look forward to working with the IHA board of directors and leading the IHA staff to further develop the Show and other projects for the benefit of our entire industry.”

Miller joined IHA in December 1999 as director, international business development, and was named vice president, international services in October 2001. He led IHA’s international department until March 2014 when he was named vice president, global marketing. During his tenure in international services, Miller more than doubled international buyer attendance at the International Home + Housewares Show. He also developed the International Business Council (IBC) Global Forum programme to provide IHA members with direct education and networking with key buyers; and established the current model for IHA trade missions, leading more than 18 trade missions to 12 countries – including Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Sweden and the UK.

As vice president, global marketing, Miller developed and implemented the strategic direction for the Inspired Home consumer engagement programme. It attracts more than 5 million page views annually to TheInspiredHome.com and now includes The Inspired Home Journal, a high-quality print magazine sold in retail stores nationwide. He developed and oversaw an integrated marketing programme to attract global buyers and exhibitors to the International Home + Housewares Show; led a redesign of IHA’s website and created an interconnected blog; and built the Global Innovation Awards (gia) into the industry’s leading awards programme, annually honouring 25 global retailers, 65 product suppliers and eight exhibitor displays.

Before joining IHA, Miller served as director of international sales/marketing at Nordic Ware. He has a Master’s degree in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from Colorado State University.

“The IHA Search Committee partnered with a world-class recruiting firm to deploy an extensive search and evaluation in our quest of the best individual to lead the IHA for the next era,” stated Brett Bradshaw, IHA chairman and co-president, Bradshaw Home. “Derek Miller will fill that role in exemplary fashion. The Board looks forward to working with Derek and evolving successfully in the future.”