Rick Goddard says that his professional story is one of creating new ideas and products that succeed.

Top 40 distributor HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000) is banking that the experienced technology executive will continue inking that professional tale in its C-Suite.

Rick Goddard, CIO, HALO

Late Monday, Sterling, IL-based HALO announced that it has hired Goddard as its new chief information officer. Goddard will report to Chief Operating Officer Adam Weisman. The new top tech exec succeeds Dale Moir, who the company said last year announced his intention to reduce his role at HALO. Moir will stay on to help with the transition, according to HALO.

“HALO is committed to driving the growth of the business with the most advanced technology available, delivered by the most qualified people possible,” Goddard said. “I am excited to support the vision the company has for continued growth.”

Weisman believes Goddard is the right professional to help power HALO’s technology forward – something viewed as essential in the always-evolving, increasingly digital 21st Century marketplace.

“I am very excited to have Rick join us with his strong leadership skills and track record of developing technology teams to bring high-value solutions to our clients, customers, employees and investors,” said Weisman, who added: “We are also thankful for Dale’s 18 years of service leading our IT area, and his willingness to stay on to effect the most successful transition.”

Most recently, Goddard was director of technology services for Liberty Technology Advisors, a strategic management consultancy. While there, he advised and assisted Fortune 1000 clients. From 2005 to 2014, Goddard was CIO/CTO for Aspen Marketing Services. His work history additionally includes serving as CTO at Vision, described as a pre/post sale direct marketing communications partner.

During his time as a tech executive, Goddard says that he developed a merger integration plan between two $1.8 billion technology product and services companies that resulted in a 50% reduction in the business application portfolio and 38% decrease in technology costs. That experience could potentially prove crucial for HALO, which has been busily acquiring leading competitors in recent years, including two Top 40 distributors in 2018.

Other achievements bulletpointed in Goddard’s resume include that he developed and leveraged the technology solutions that enabled a $200 million company to nearly double its annual revenue. Additionally, he is said to have developed and managed a data-driven marketing loyalty platform that generated $300 million in annual revenue while measuring “meaningful customer journeys.”

In addition to being aggressive on acquisitions of late, HALO has also been actively hiring leadership talent. In October, for instance, the Top 40 firm brought aboard Nicholas P. Jakubowski as its general counsel. The attorney has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, which helped make him an attractive candidate. In November, HALO appointed Kerri May to the position of supplier relations manager. May’s experience in the promo space helped make her the right choice, executives said.

With reported 2017 North American promotional product revenue of $416.4 million, HALO ranked third on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest distributors in the industry.