November 5, 2008 - Jeff Higgins, a 40-year veteran paper distribution sales and marketing manager and the current director of xpedx Marketing Services and Information, announced he will retire from xpedx on Nov. 30.

Higgins is responsible for marketing communications strategy and execution at the $7.3 billion revenue division of International Paper. He has held the top marketing services post since 1999 and is also responsible for the company’s market research, branding/advertising and public relations activities.

He founded and built the xpedx Marketing Services and Information department to unify the company’s sales materials, external communications and all corporate branding. His drive to centralize all xpedx marketing functions resulted in millions of dollars in annual savings.

During the decade prior to his current position with xpedx, Higgins held various successful sales and marketing management positions with the former Nationwide Papers, a large national paper distributor acquired by xpedx.

Higgins also served in sales and marketing positions at Scott Paper Company, Monarch Paper Company, Moore Paper Companies, Inc., and Bancroft Paper. He also held sales and marketing positions at New York Telephone and Memorex Corp.

Higgins received a B.A. in Business from Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY. He also served in the U.S. Army as an infantry company commander. Throughout his career, he has been active on various printing and advertising association boards across the U.S. Higgins currently lives in Cincinnati with his beloved wife of 40 years, Kathy, and has two adult children.