The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has appointed Neal J. Couture, CAE, FASAE, as its next President and CEO, with the leadership transition set to take effect October 1, 2026. Couture will succeed interim CEO Debbie Fogel-Monnissen and lead the organization as supply management continues to evolve amid technological, economic and workforce changes.
Couture brings more than 25 years of experience across professional associations, credentialing organizations and educational institutions, with a career closely connected to procurement and contract management. Most recently, he served as CEO of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. Earlier, he spent 12 years as executive director of the National Contract Management Association and held an administrative leadership position at Boston College. He also helped launch a graduate program focused on government contracts law and business at George Washington University Law School.
His appointment comes as supply chain leaders face increasing pressure from technological disruption, changing workforce needs, geopolitical uncertainty and the growing importance of resilience. ISM has more than 200,000 practitioners across more than 100 countries and provides professional development, certifications, research and market intelligence to the supply management community.
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Couture said, “I am honored to join ISM at a time when supply management is increasingly central to how organizations create value, manage risk and compete in a global economy.”
The leadership change places an experienced association and procurement executive at the helm as the profession continues shifting from a cost-focused function toward a more strategic role in organizational resilience and competitiveness.
