International BBB association names president, CEO

Christopher “Kip” Morse to lead North American Better Business Bureau group

Published December 22, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Christopher “Kip” Morse. Photo courtesy International Association of Better Business Bureaus

The Arlington-based International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB) announced Monday it has named Christopher “Kip” Morse as president and CEO, effective Jan. 11, 2021.

The IABB is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Morse has been president and CEO of the BBB of Central Ohio in Columbus for the past 20 years. He succeeds interim Executive Director Colleen Rudio, founder of Missoula, Montana-based Cascadia Business Development, a BBB accredited business.

“Kip’s commitment to BBB and its mission of marketplace trust has been the core of his professional life,” Jim Hegarty, IABBB board chair, said in a statement. “He … led or supported improvements and expansion of important BBB programs focused on trust, character and ethics.”

During his tenure with the BBB of Central Ohio, Morse grew the organization from 1,900 members, 12 employees and a $500,000 budget to 5,300 members, 29 employees and a $3.6 million budget.

Morse earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kent State University and is the founder and chair of the Consumer Fraud Advisory Group, which includes the attorney general, state and local law enforcement and regional FBI, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Homeland Security offices.

The BBB was founded more than 100 years ago and works to help connect businesses, brands and charities.