- Marie Gargas promoted to Associate Vice President
- Two new hires advance ACI’s Sustainability and Science initiatives
The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) announced the promotion of Marie Gargas to Associate Vice President, Regulatory and International Affairs. The Institute also welcomed Leeann Arthur as Senior Director, Sustainability and Lilian Lam Josephson, Ph.D., as Senior Director, Public Health.
“These leadership additions strengthen ACI’s ability to serve the evolving needs of the cleaning products industry,” said Jennifer Abril, ACI President & CEO. “As expectations grow around sustainability, product safety and regulatory transparency, our members rely on ACI to provide trusted science, credible policy insight and practical industry leadership. Marie’s promotion, together with the expertise Leeann and Lilian bring, deepens the capabilities we provide on behalf of the entire cleaning product supply chain.”
Marie joined ACI in 2024 and previously served as Senior Director, Regulatory and International Affairs. She is responsible for directing strategies on regulatory issues related to human and environmental health and safety. Marie also oversees research to support industry’s science-based initiatives. Additionally, Marie supports ACI’s membership in the International Network of Cleaning Product Associations (INCPA).
Prior to joining ACI, Marie served as Senior Technical Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS).
As Senior Director, Sustainability, Leeann will help implement ACI’s long-term sustainability program strategy and priorities, lead initiatives that drive and support sustainability progress across industry and oversee ACI Sustainability Committee workgroups.
Leeann most recently served as a Managing Director with the Deloitte & Touche LLP Sustainability advisory practice. She holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University (Washington, D.C.), a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) and a Sustainability Certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA).
In her role as Senior Director, Public Health, Lilian will lead ACI’s Topical Antiseptics Program, manage studies assessing product safety and efficacy, facilitate scientific work groups and serve as scientific liaison to regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Prior to joining ACI, Lilian served as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware (Newark, DE) and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from the City College of New York (New York, NY).
The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.