The board of directors of the Strategic Account Management Association (SAMA) announced today the resignation of Lisa Napolitano, President & CEO, effective September 15, 2006. During this time, Ms. Napolitano will continue to work with SAMA helping guide the organization through the transition to new leadership. "My decision to pursue new challenges was not an easy one," said Napolitano, "particularly given my continued passion for the subject of strategic customer management. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the incredible opportunities I have had to work with and learn from the practitioners and consultants who form the SAMA community. Their support, as well as that of SAMA's staff and Board of Directors, contributed greatly to our growth and prosperity and will continue to do so in the future." Napolitano has served in the capacity of SAMA's Chief Staff Executive since 1991, building the small, regional organization into a globally recognized association with over 4,000 members from the world's top firms. "SAMA has come a long way since Lisa began her career here over 15 years ago as our only staff person," said SAMA's Board Chair, Rosemary Heneghan, Director, International Sales & Operations, Worldwide, IBM. "Her vision has guided numerous SAMA initiatives and programs, including research, publications and educational conferences. While her leadership and enthusiasm will be missed by SAMA's staff and customers, her legacy of thought leadership and community building around strategic account management will remain as the foundation for SAMA's ongoing and future initiatives. We wish her all the best as she moves into the next stage of her career." The SAMA Board has named one of its Directors, Tom VanHootegem, interim CEO until a permanent replacement for Napolitano is named.

About the Strategic Account Management Association (SAMA)

Founded in 1964, SAMA is a non-profit organization devoted to developing and promoting the practice of customer-supplier collaboration. SAMA is dedicated to the professional development of the individuals involved in the process of managing national, global and strategic customer relationships, and to enable firms to create greater customer value and achieve competitive advantage accordingly. Based in Chicago, the association has earned a reputation for being the strategic account management profession's knowledge leader, providing members with the high quality resources, training and networking opportunities needed to succeed.

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