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ACI’s SVP of Communications Brian Sansoni Retires

Charles Crain named new chief advocacy & public affairs officer.

From left: Brian Sansoni and Charles Crain.

The American Cleaning Institute’s SVP of communication, Brian Sansoni, will retire effective Oct. 31, 2026, after more than two decades with the association.

Charles Crain has joined ACI as chief advocacy & public affairs officer.

“Brian’s contributions to ACI and the cleaning products industry have been extraordinary,” said Jennifer Abril, ACI president & CEO. “For more than two decades, he has been one of ACI’s most visible and trusted ambassadors, strengthening our relationships with the news media, members and stakeholders. His strategic leadership and enthusiasm for what our members bring to the table every single day have left a lasting mark on this organization and the industry we serve.”

For 26 years, Sansoni shaped ACI’s voice and led its communications and member engagement efforts. Over his tenure, his team earned numerous honors in the public relations and marketing arenas for work that consistently created positive conversations about cleaning. This included the development of the Cleaning Is Caring initiative during the covid-19 pandemic, which showcased the essential nature of cleaning products and their chemistries to enhance health and quality of life.

New Chapter

As ACI looks to its next chapter, Crain will lead the association’s government affairs and communications teams, bringing those capabilities together to strengthen ACI’s voice and engagement with policymakers, members and other stakeholders. As chief advocacy & public affairs officer, he will lead ACI’s efforts to Elevate Cleaning through integrated advocacy, communications, public affairs and stakeholder engagement.

Crain joins ACI from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), where he most recently served as managing vice president, Policy. During his eight years at the NAM, he held a series of senior leadership roles spanning policy and advocacy, helping shape and advance the manufacturing sector’s priorities in an increasingly complex policy and political environment.

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