DMA Hires CMO, Sales VP

The Direct Marketing Association has hired Tom Shimko to serve as senior VP and CMO, and Lee Shufro as VP of sales. Shimko and Shufro will be based in the DMA’s New York headquarters and will report to executive VP and COO Ramesh Ratan.

Shimko will coordinate the DMA’s marketing strategy across all of its services and products including membership, conferences, segment events, education services, and research publications.

Shimko most recently served as VP of strategic marketing for GE Capital’s equipment financial services business. Prior to that, he was CMO for Danbury Health Systems. In addition, he has also served as senior VP of worldwide customer loyalty and retention at the American International Group, Inc.

Shimko also was senior managing partner for Peppers and Rogers Group, Inc., where he created, organized, and managed the consulting division. He has also held senior marketing positions at Opinion Research Corporation and Pitney Bowes’ Mailing Systems Division.

Shufro is tasked with developing the DMA’s existing staff and growing a high performing sales team to support the organization’s growth goals. Shufro will bundle the DMA’s products and services into new packages, as well as develop and manage an independent commissioned sales agent network within the US and globally.

Most recently, Shufro was VP of every day spend in the establishment services division of American Express. Prior to that role, Shufro gained significant sales leadership experience serving as vice president of American Express’s US International Payments business. Before American Express, he was director of sales with Cendant Corp. (now Trilegiant). He began his career with Cendant at Entertainment Publications as an account executive.