Spotlight: Phil Ollila, Winner of the 2024 Sally Dedecker Award for Lifetime Service

The Book Industry Study Group announced last month that Phil Ollila will be recognized with the Sally Dedecker Award for Lifetime Service at BISG's Annual Meeting on Friday, April 12 in New York City. Established in 2013 and named for one of BISG’s longtime volunteers and advocates, the award recognizes the tireless and persistent efforts, often unseen, of an individual working on behalf of the book industry. The award is normally given to a member of BISG.

Throughout his career, first at the Borders Group, and then at the Ingram Content Group (where he is currently celebrating his twentieth anniversary), Phil has earned a reputation for serving the industry as a trusted partner known for his willingness to listen to all points of view while navigating the complexities of publishing and supply chain challenges.

The award will be introduced and presented by Lorraine Shanley of Market Partners International. Like Ingram, Market Partners is a longtime member and supporter of BISG. Past recipients of the Sally Dedecker Award for Lifetime Service from Ingram include Wendell Lotz, who was the first recipient of the award in 2013, and John Ingram, who received the award in 2016.

Recent honorees winners include Jim Milliot of Publishers Weekly (2023), Joe Gonnella, formerly of Barnes & Noble (2022), and Maureen McMahon of Kaplan Publishing (2021). Phil Ollila joins a distinguished list of honorees: