The Moran Company Recruits Eighth Executive Director for the American Philatelic Society
September 4, 2025 – The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has assisted in the recruitment of Kirk Gillis as the eighth executive director of the American Philatelic Society (APS). Senior search consultant Mike English led the assignment. Mr. Gillis replaces outgoing executive director Scott English, who announced his departure in November 2024, completing almost 10 years in the role. The APS board of directors established a search committee in November 2024, with outgoing president Cheryl Ganz serving as chair. “We are excited to welcome Kirk to the APS and our philatelic community,” said Ms. Ganz. “He understands collecting and has a vision for leading our society and hobby into the future.”
“Kirk’s joining the APS as executive director will further our mission to serve the philatelic community,” added incoming APS president Mark Banchik. “He brings skills and insights which will allow the APS to remain at the forefront of our hobby.” Mr. Banchik, who also served on the search committee, took over as APS president at the Great American Stamp Show in August.
Mr. Gillis is an entrepreneurial leader with over 20 years of experience in planning, executing, and optimizing highly integrated growth strategies for organizations across the private, non-profit, and government sectors. Most recently, he served as deputy associate director and chief sales and marketing officer for the United States Mint, where he was responsible for brand management, sales and marketing strategy, product development, e-commerce operations, and customer service for the numismatic and bullion business lines. With a focus on customer acquisition and revenue growth, he oversaw an $80 million budget. He led a team of 60 employees, achieving an overall 50 percent growth in the Mint’s numismatic business over four years.
Before joining the Mint, Mr. Gillis founded, scaled, and exited two digital businesses in East Africa. In 2008, he launched ZoomTanzania, an award-winning horizontal classifieds and e-commerce platform. In 2012, he opened the doors to PinPoint Africa Media, a full-service marketing agency that provided creative services, digital strategy, website development, and media planning to multinational brands operating in East Africa, including Tigo, Toyota, Barclays Bank, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Diageo, and others.
Mr. Gillis also served as a founding member of the leadership team that launched the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), a 501(c)(3) organization funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As the marketing and communications director, he led the development and execution of a national marketing and outreach strategy to increase participation in recreational fishing and boating in the United States.
“I hope to draw from these experiences as I engage the philatelic community in a collaborative strategic planning process that will grow membership and ensure a vibrant future for the APS and philately overall,” said Mr. Gillis.
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The American Philatelic Society is the largest non-profit stamp collecting organization in the world. Both the membership and interests of the society are worldwide. The organization, originally named the American Philatelic Association, was established on September 14, 1886 in New York City.
Finding Non-Profit Leaders
The Moran Company, based in Leawood, KS, specializes in searches for non-profit leadership, including executive directors, fundraising/development directors, hospital foundation directors, and other senior executives. Bill Moran founded the search firm in 1996. He has worked on more than 70 non-profit searches. He brings a rare combination to the search sector having spent 10 years as senior fundraising staff and 12 years as a successful fundraising consultant serving more than 100 clients.
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Mr. English, vice president for search strategies, joined The Moran Company in 2020. He previously served as inaugural executive director of Turn the Page KC, a reading proficiency organization for third graders, for whom he still consults. Before that, he was president and CEO of the Missouri Council on Economic Education, based at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The organization promotes and conducts economic and financial education in all Missouri schools. Mr. English was also a senior analyst for the Kauffman Foundation, which aspires “to eliminate barriers so that every person – regardless of their background – can take risks, achieve success and give back to their communities.” His earliest work experience involved managing the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, a non-profit dedicated to promoting civic and community engagement for young professionals.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
