Chris Anderson joined HandStands in 2002, in a business development capacity. At the time, HandStands was a 19-year old manufacturer of computer accessories, with the majority of its revenue generated from the selling of mouse pads in the office products and advertising specialty channels.

After identifying the Car Air Freshener market as an area of opportunity, Chris led HandStands’ entrance into this category in 2003. HandStands’ incursion into the auto fragrance business was supported by new product innovation; and, subsequently, led to Chris’ first issued US utility patent.

In addition to establishing an innovation program within HandStands that launched more top-10 NPD new items each year, from 2004 – 2014, than all other competitors combined, Chris also established the HandStands 360 Degree Category Management program –which ultimately resulted in HandStands being appointed Category Captain / Advisor at such retailers as: Walmart, Target, Auto Zone, Dollar General, Maverik, Halford’s (UK) and Meijer, among others.

In 2010, after serving in various leadership positions within the organization, Chris added the title of CEO to his prior role of President. During this same year, and within eight years of selling its first car air freshener, HandStands had risen to become the NPD, IRI and Nielsen US #1 market share leader.

In 2013, after ten years of consecutive double-digit growth, Chris guided HandStands through a majority recapitalization with Trivest Partners (a Florida-Based Private Equity Firm). Following Trivest’s investment, Chris continued to serve as President, CEO and HandStands Board Member, and was chiefly responsible for establishing and executing the company’s go-to-market strategy, while also overseeing HandStands’ international expansion and entrance into adjacent categories through the launch of innovative, patent-pending, products such as Refresh Your Car® Antibacterial Wipes.

Chris was also responsible for setting HandStands’ merger and acquisition strategy. In executing on HandStands’ M&A initiative, Chris integrated three highly successful add-on acquisitions (Lexol®, California Scents® and Eagle One®). These three acquisitions were complementary across product formats, customers/channels and geographies, and resulted in significant synergy realization as part of their respective integrations –while growing all three acquired revenue bases via effective cross-selling.

By 2016, HandStands EBITDA had grown more than 30 X the level when Chris joined the company, and its products were distributed in over 100 countries throughout the world. Domestically, HandStands continued to lead the Auto Fragrance market with an NPD #1 share

and deep penetration of the mass, food, drug, automotive, dollar, convenience, truck stop, sporting goods, home/hardware, electronics, office supply, warehouse and advertising specialty channels. In July of 2016, HandStands was sold to Energizer Holdings (the global battery and consumer products company).

In early 2017, Chris lead a group of investors in the carve out of the “Legacy” HandStands Products’ Mouse Pad and Promotional Products (ASI) business unit from Energizer. Under Chris’ leadership, this stand-alone business grew rapidly, and Chris then guided it to a strategic acquisition by HPG in late 2018.

Following HandStands Products’ acquisition by HPG, Chris continued on with the combined companies; and, in June of 2019, he became CEO of HPG, a role he continues to serve in today.

In addition to his role of CEO and Board Member of HPG, Chris currently serves on the boards of JB Weld (a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded adhesive products), Durham Brands (a fast-growing innovator in the branded girls and womens hair accessory category), Millburn & Co. (a real estate investment firm, with over $1.5 Billion in assets across the U.S., focusing on the multifamily housing sector), and the Westminster College Gore School of Business.

Chris is a Summa Cum Laude Economics (B.S.) graduate of Westminster College, and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife Jamie and their four children. Chris enjoys spending time with his family along with flying, boating, snow sports and serving others