Ashburn, VA – June 26, 2025 – The Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) is proud to announce that it has appointed Vani Ungapen as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2025.
Vani brings to APMP more than 20 years of experience in association leadership, including a proven track record of delivering membership growth and member value across multiple professional associations. She joins APMP from the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), where she has served as Executive Director for nearly seven years.
The appointment of Vani Ungapen concludes an extensive global search conducted by APMP in partnership with The Batten Group, a premier executive search firm specializing in nonprofit leadership. The APMP Board of Directors engaged The Batten Group in February of this year, following a competitive selection process, and formed a dedicated Search Committee to support the recruitment process.
The committee actively involved current and former APMP Chairs in shaping the search criteria, before officially launching the search, which ran from March through May. The Batten Group reported engagement from more than 1,500 professionals worldwide, resulting in multiple rounds of interviews, and in-person meetings with several highly qualified shortlisted candidates.
Vani stated that she was “excited and honored” to be appointed as APMP’s new CEO.
“Having spent my entire career in professional associations, I deeply understand that members are the foundation of everything we do,” she said. “I am looking forward to getting to know the members, to having one-on-one conversations with as many people as possible, and getting to know more about the profession, the partners and the stakeholders.”
Vani succeeds Rick Harris, who is retiring at the end of this year after 14 successful years at the helm of the association.
Although her focus during this leadership transition will, she says, be primarily on “listening and learning”, one of her goals moving forward is to increase APMP’s impact as a global association.
“Rick and the team have done an amazing job,” she added. “Now, my role is to come in and build on that success.”
Stacey Lee, the Chair of the APMP Board of Directors, said of Vani’s appointment: “I and the Board are very excited to welcome Vani to APMP. Vani joins us with a wealth of experience in the association world, as well as a leadership style and values that align with APMP’s culture and values. She brings a combination of passion, openness, and expertise that, together with the staff, Board, and our members, will enable us to continue building towards an ever-brighter future for our association.”
About Vani Ungapen, CAE
Vani Ungapen is a highly respected nonprofit and association senior leader, with 20+ years of experience managing professional membership associations.
Previously, Vani served in senior leadership positions with associations across the legal and real estate industries, consistently delivering increased member value, building thriving communities, and leading high-performing teams.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Manchester in England and a Master of Laws (LLM) from Stetson University College of Law in Florida, US. She is also a Certified Association Executive through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
In addition to her professional experience, Vani has lived and traveled across 20 different countries and brings a global mindset to APMP’s worldwide mission.
Vani is based in Chicago, Illinois in the US.
We warmly welcome Vani to APMP and encourage you to share your well wishes with her on LinkedIn.
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