ASCM names Elizabeth K. Usher as next CEO

The Association for Supply Chain Management said Elizabeth K. Usher will become chief executive officer on Dec. 1, 2026, succeeding Abe Eshkenazi after a 20-year run. The hire brings an association and healthcare executive with global operating experience to lead ASCM’s supply chain mission.

Why it matters: - ASCM is replacing a long-tenured chief executive at a time when supply chains remain central to business performance, workforce development and economic resilience. - Usher’s background combines association leadership with global healthcare operations, giving ASCM a leader with experience in revenue growth, member value and large-scale transformation. - The transition matters for ASCM’s members, partners and certification ecosystem because the organization plays a major role in supply chain education and talent development.

What happened: - ASCM announced that Elizabeth K. Usher, MBA, will become the organization’s next chief executive officer effective Dec. 1, 2026. - The board selected Usher after a comprehensive search conducted with executive search firm Vetted Solutions. - Usher will succeed Abe Eshkenazi, who is stepping down after 20 years as CEO. - The announcement was made Sept. 16, 2026, in Chicago.

The details: - Usher currently serves as chief executive officer and executive director of the American Academy of Dermatology, the world’s largest dermatologic society. - Since 2020, Usher has led substantial and sustained revenue growth at the AAD while strengthening member value and transforming operations. - Earlier in her career, Usher held executive commercial and general management roles at the College of American Pathologists and GE Healthcare/Amersham Health. - Her prior roles included P&L and commercial responsibility across global businesses in cancer treatment, molecular imaging and surgical imaging. - Usher also had executive oversight of operations and supply chain capabilities tied to those businesses’ performance. - Mike Bunge, vice president of supply chain at Hamilton Beach Brands and chair of ASCM’s board, said Usher is a growth-oriented leader with a proven track record across complex global organizations. - Bunge said Usher’s experience building strategy, financial discipline and member and stakeholder value makes her the right leader for ASCM’s global supply chain community. - Usher holds an MBA in international business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. - Usher earned a bachelor’s degree in management science from Georgia Tech, where she serves on the College of Sciences Advisory Board.

Between the lines: - ASCM appears to be prioritizing a leader who can combine mission-driven association experience with operational discipline and revenue growth. - Usher’s background in healthcare organizations with complex operations suggests ASCM wants executive experience that translates across large, distributed member networks. - The board’s public emphasis on strategy, financial discipline and stakeholder value signals continuity in ASCM’s focus on organizational scale and impact.

What’s next: - Usher will officially take over ASCM on Dec. 1, 2026. - ASCM will continue its work in APICS education, certification, career resources and supply chain innovation under the new CEO. - The organization will likely use the transition to reinforce its mission around talent development, resilience and sustainable operations.

The bottom line: - ASCM is betting that a seasoned association executive with global healthcare leadership experience can extend the organization’s influence across supply chain professionals, employers and economies.