WASHINGTON – The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) announced on Tuesday the appointment of Paul Gama as the new chair of the CHPA board of directors. Gama was elected on April 13, 2020, along with other new board members, at CHPA’s annual membership meeting conducted, for the first time ever, in a virtual forum online. Gama has been a member of CHPA’s board of directors since 2018.

Paul Gama

Gama is president of Personal Health Care (PHC) for The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), leading their global healthcare portfolio of OTC medicines, dietary supplements, and consumer medical devices. Prior to his current global leadership role, Gama led P&G’s North America PHC portfolio for three years and has been key to P&G’s improved business growth and innovation success. Gama joined P&G in 2017, bringing with him a track record of success at other consumer healthcare companies, including Bayer, Novartis, and Reckitt Benckiser.

“I am delighted to be serving as CHPA board chair,” said Gama. “This is a highly transformational period for the industry, and for CHPA. I look forward to working closely with the board and CHPA staff to implement the association’s new holistic approach to self-care in the OTC, dietary supplement, and consumer medical device sectors.”

“We are thrilled that Paul has assumed this board leadership role, particularly during such a pivotal moment for the industry and our association,” said CHPA president and CEO Scott Melville. “Paul brings an incredible depth of experience in consumer healthcare marketing and management, and his insights and expertise will be critical to CHPA and its work to further empower self-care in America. I very much look forward to working with Paul and the entire board to move our industry agenda forward.”

Melville added, “I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Gary Downing, CEO of Clarion Brands and CHPA’s outgoing chair, under whose leadership the association realized its top-two legislative priorities – securing comprehensive reform of the OTC Monograph regulatory framework, and restoring eligibility of OTCs in tax-preferred HSA and FSA accounts. Moreover, Gary oversaw the CHPA 2020 strategic planning process which completed the transformation of CHPA to a broader self-care association. His leadership will have a lasting impact on the industry and our association. ”

“As we navigate through these turbulent, uncertain times, we’re immensely grateful for our dedicated board of directors,” said Melville. “Each member of our board, with their commitment and expertise, plays an essential role in guiding the strategic direction of our association. Under Paul Gama’s leadership as chair, CHPA will continue the important work of strengthening and expanding the industry to ensure our vision of happier, healthier lives through responsible self-care.”

One-third of the CHPA board of directors is elected annually, with manufacturer members elected for three-year terms and associate members elected for two-year terms. The board members re-elected at this year’s annual membership meeting include:

• Greg Bradley, Foundation Consumer Healthcare LLC
• John Dowers, Wellspring Consumer Healthcare
• Michelle Goodridge, Johnson & Johnson
• Ron Lombardi, Prestige Consumer Healthcare
• Jim Medford, KC Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Barry Reichgott, Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Randy Sloan, Lornamead, Inc.
• Bob Sanders, IRI

The newly-elected board members include:

• Erin Bonovetz, senior vice president, OTC Business, Perrigo Company
• Timothy J. Connors, chief executive officer, Advantice Health
• Kevin Menzel, managing director and chief operating officer, Focus Consumer Healthcare
• Susan KG Sorrell, CEO and president, NFI Consumer Products
• Cindy Dibiasi, partner, 3D Communications
• Marsha McGraw, senior vice president and president, US CPG Markets, Catalina

Additionally, Erin Bonovetz and Joe Gordon, of Bausch + Lomb, were elected to serve on the board of directors’ executive committee.

View the full CHPA board of directors here.