Silpada recently added a sterling addition to its executive team.
Tom Kelly, the longtime Avon executive, joined the Kansas-based home party company as its new President and COO. He will work with Chairman and CEO Jerry Kelly and Co-Founders Bonnie Kelly and Teresa Walsh in leading Silpada through the next phases of its growth.
“I have worked with Tom very closely on the boards of both the U.S. Direct Selling Association and the Direct Selling Education Foundation for many years and have tremendous respect for him,” said Jerry Kelly. “We are very fortunate to have Tom join our executive team and know that his broad North American and international direct sales experience and acumen will be of immense value to Silpada for years to come.”
Tom Kelly’s experience includes more than 30 years at Avon. Most recently he served as Avon’s Senior Vice President of Global Direct Sales, where he developed and implemented breakthrough sales initiatives and spearheaded a new level of integration between marketing and sales. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of U.S. Direct Sales; President and General Manager of Avon Germany; Group Vice President, U.S. Sales/Customer Care; as well as other positions since joining the company in 1980. Kelly is also past Chairman of the DSA Board of Directors and the current Chair of the DSEF Board of Directors.
Silpada, whose primary focus is offering a unique collection of .925 sterling silver jewelry, was acquired by Avon in 2010 and now has independent representatives throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Kelly’s experience should be particularly helpful as Avon looks to identify a successor to current CEO Andrea Jung, who was the driving force behind the Silpada acquisition.
