A remarkable 48-year career is coming to an end with the announcement that Bill Hemann, executive vice president of Hospeco Brands Group, will retire on Dec. 31, 2024. Fortunately, Hemann has agreed to stay on in an advisory capacity to mentor and develop new leadership, share his vast product knowledge, and help ensure the company continues the growth and success it has realized throughout his remarkable tenure.
Hemann first joined the company in 1976 and has served across the organization in many functional areas, beginning in finance then transitioning to sales and marketing. Under his leadership, the company introduced hundreds of new products and pioneered entire product categories. In the past decade he has captained a period of unprecedented organic and acquisition growth.
Through it all, Hemann has maintained a sterling reputation as a visionary leader who inspires with his hard work, integrity, and sense of fairness. This reputation extends well beyond the company and reverberates through the entire industry, where Hemann has been honored with the Manufacturer Representatives’ Distinguished Service Award from ISSA and served as past president of the Ohio Sanitary Supply Association.
Hemann was instrumental in Hospeco Brands Group’s pioneering role in the effort to eliminate period poverty via the company’s Period Partner initiative and was crucial in developing ISSA’s own industry-wide advocacy position on the issue.
Hemannl says, “I have been blessed to have worked my entire career in a company and an industry that sees all work as honorable. Similarly, it’s nothing short of life-changing to work with professionals who value each other personally and professionally to the degree I’ve been fortunate enough to experience. These same customer-oriented professionals dig deep every day to add value to the customer experience, and that leaves us well-positioned for growth. I wish it were possible to thank everyone I have met who supported me and made this career so fulfilling — my family, my colleagues, our customers, our suppliers, even our competitors. I am thankful for every interaction. It has been a great adventure and I wish that everyone can end a career this grateful.”