The American Philatelic Society announced today the hiring of Kirk Gillis to be the eighth Executive Director of the Society. A seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in strategic growth across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Kirk brings a dynamic track record of innovation and impact. Most recently, he served as Deputy Associate Director and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the U.S. Mint, where he led brand strategy, product development, e-commerce, and customer service for the numismatic and bullion programs. Under his leadership, the Mint’s numismatic business grew by 50 percent over four years.
Gillis will assume the leadership role on July 14, 2025. He replaces outgoing Executive Director Scott English, who announced his departure in November 2024, completing almost ten 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 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.” Banchik, who also served on the Search Committee, will take over as APS President at the Great American Stamp Show in August.
Kirk’s background also includes launching and scaling successful digital ventures in East Africa, including ZoomTanzania and PinPoint Africa Media, which served major global brands. Earlier in his career, he helped establish the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, directing a national outreach campaign to grow outdoor participation in the U.S. A Navy veteran with degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of Rhode Island, Kirk brings a global perspective and entrepreneurial spirit to lead the APS into its next chapter.
On taking the lead at the APS, Gillis added, “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.”
English will remain at the APS through a transition period ending at the Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg, Illinois.
About Kirk
Kirk 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, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Most recently, Kirk 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 a $80 million budget. He led a team of 60 employees, achieving an overall 50% growth in the Mint's numismatic business over four years.
Before joining the Mint, Kirk successfully 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.
Before entering the business world, Kirk 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, Kirk led the development and execution of a national marketing and outreach strategy to increase participation in recreational fishing and boating in the United States.
Kirk earned his master’s degree from Texas A&M University and his undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island. He is also a proud veteran of the United States Navy.