ACCO Brands

ACCO Brands is an American branded-products company serving work, learning, home-office, business, and gaming environments. Rather than operating as a single-product label, it manages a broad portfolio of consumer, academic, commercial, and technology brands. Its products include staplers and fastening supplies, folders and filing products, notebooks and planners, whiteboards and presentation equipment, binding and laminating systems, shredders, computer accessories, ergonomic peripherals, and gaming controllers and accessories. The present company was created in 2005 when Fortune Brands spun off ACCO World and combined it with General Binding Corporation. That transaction brought together ACCO's established office-products heritage with General Binding's expertise in document finishing and related equipment. The company subsequently expanded through the acquisition of MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products business in 2012, the purchase of Esselte Group Holdings AB in 2017, and the acquisition of PowerA in 2020. These transactions broadened ACCO Brands geographically and added important product categories and brands. Its portfolio has included Swingline, Kensington, GBC, Mead, Five Star, Quartet, AT-A-GLANCE, Cambridge, Day Runner, Hilroy, Tilibra, Grafons, Leitz, Esselte, Rapid, Rexel, Wilson Jones, and PowerA. The brands address different purchasing occasions and channels: mass retail and e-commerce, office-product dealers, educational procurement, commercial workplaces, and specialist technology and gaming channels. This multi-brand structure allows ACCO Brands to maintain distinct identities for products ranging from everyday stationery to professional document-management equipment and gaming peripherals. ACCO Brands sells in more than 100 countries and has organized its operations into Americas and International segments. Its international presence was strengthened particularly by the Esselte acquisition, which added established European brands and distribution capabilities. The company's technology exposure grew through Kensington and, later, PowerA, taking the business beyond traditional paper-based office supplies. The company is headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ACCO. In 2023, Thomas W. Tedford succeeded Boris Elisman as chief executive officer. As described in company and reference materials, ACCO Brands had nearly 6,600 employees in 21 countries as of 2026, with products distributed across a global network. Its current positioning is that of a diversified branded-products platform connecting office organization, education, productivity technology, and gaming accessories.

ACCO Brands' corporate history combines more than a century of office-products heritage with a series of later portfolio expansions. The ACCO name traces back to the American Clip Company, founded in 1903 by Fred J. Kline. The business developed through the American office-products industry and eventually became part of American Brands, which was later known as Fortune Brands. This lineage provided the foundation for the ACCO World business that would later become part of the present company. The modern corporation was established in 2005. Fortune Brands spun off ACCO World and merged it with General Binding Corporation. ACCO brought established capabilities in fastening, filing, desktop organization, and office supplies, while General Binding was associated with binding, laminating, and document-finishing equipment. Their combination created a larger company with a wider product range and a stronger platform for serving office dealers, retailers, schools, and commercial customers. ACCO Brands continued to develop as a multi-brand company rather than consolidating all products under one name. Swingline became associated with staplers and fastening products; GBC with binding, laminating, and document processing; Kensington with computer accessories and workplace technology; and Quartet with whiteboards and presentation products. This brand architecture allowed products with different users, price points, and distribution channels to retain distinct market identities. A major expansion occurred in 2012, when ACCO Brands combined with MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products business. The transaction added a substantial collection of consumer and academic products, including Mead, Five Star, Trapper Keeper, AT-A-GLANCE, Cambridge, Day Runner, Hilroy, Tilibra, and Grafons. It increased ACCO Brands' exposure to notebooks, planners, calendars, student products, and retail stationery, complementing its traditional office-equipment activities. In 2017, ACCO Brands acquired Esselte Group Holdings AB. The deal expanded the company's European presence and added brands such as Leitz, Esselte, Rapid, and Rexel. It also increased the importance of international distribution and gave ACCO Brands a broader position in filing, organization, stapling, and other workplace categories across European markets. The company entered a further adjacent category in 2020 through its acquisition of PowerA, a maker of video-game controllers and gaming accessories. PowerA extended ACCO Brands' technology strategy beyond workplace peripherals and connected the company with the gaming market. Alongside Kensington, it helped give the portfolio a larger presence in accessory categories based on electronic devices and interactive entertainment. ACCO Brands operates through Americas and International segments and sells products in more than 100 countries. Its markets include retail, e-commerce, office-product dealerships, business procurement, schools, and institutional customers. The product mix spans traditional paper and desktop goods, professional document equipment, computer accessories, and gaming peripherals. In 2023, Thomas W. Tedford succeeded Boris Elisman as chief executive officer. The company remains headquartered in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ACCO. Reference materials describe the company as having nearly 6,600 employees in 21 countries as of 2026.

1. 2023Change in chief executive

   Thomas W. Tedford succeeded Boris Elisman as chief executive officer.

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2. 2020PowerA acquisition

   ACCO Brands acquired PowerA, expanding into video-game controllers and gaming accessories.

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3. 2017Esselte Group acquisition

   The acquisition expanded ACCO Brands' European operations and added Leitz, Esselte, Rapid, and Rexel.

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4. 2012MeadWestvaco consumer-products combination

   ACCO Brands added MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products business and a large group of consumer, academic, planning, and stationery brands.

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5. 2005Creation of ACCO Brands

   Fortune Brands spun off ACCO World and merged it with General Binding Corporation to form ACCO Brands Corporation.

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6. 1903American Clip Company founded

   Fred J. Kline founded the American Clip Company, the business lineage from which the ACCO name derives.

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A global multi-brand supplier of office, education, organization, productivity-technology, and gaming products, serving retail, e-commerce, business, institutional, and specialist channels.

• SwinglineStapling and desktop fastening

  Swingline is ACCO Brands' best-known fastening brand, centered on staplers, staples, punches, and related desktop products. Its range serves offices, schools, home workspaces, and general retail. The brand represents the company's long-standing role in everyday document handling, where reliability, ease of use, and compatibility with common paper workflows are central purchase considerations.

• KensingtonComputer accessories and workplace technology

  Kensington supplies computer and desk accessories for professional and home users. Its portfolio includes computer-security products, connectivity accessories, input devices, docking and related peripherals, and ergonomic workplace equipment. The brand extends ACCO Brands into technology-enabled productivity while retaining a focus on organized, secure, and usable workspaces.

• GBCBinding, laminating, and document finishing

  GBC is focused on document-finishing systems and supplies, including binding and laminating equipment and related consumables. It serves offices, schools, print environments, and commercial users that need to assemble, protect, or present paper documents. The brand reflects the General Binding heritage that became part of ACCO Brands at its formation.

• MeadPaper products and stationery

  Mead is a consumer and school-products brand offering notebooks, paper goods, folders, and related stationery. It broadened ACCO Brands' exposure to everyday academic and retail purchases beyond equipment and desktop accessories. The brand is associated with products used by students, families, and office consumers for writing, organization, and document storage.

• Five StarStudent products

  Five Star is a student-oriented brand covering notebooks, folders, binders, and classroom organization products. Its products are designed around school workflows, including note-taking, subject organization, document protection, and carrying materials between classes. The brand gives ACCO Brands a distinct academic identity within the broader stationery portfolio.

• QuartetWhiteboards and presentation products

  Quartet provides visual-communication products such as whiteboards, bulletin boards, and related display and presentation equipment. Its customers include offices, classrooms, meeting spaces, and home work areas. The brand supports collaborative planning, information display, presentations, and other situations where physical visual communication remains useful.

• LeitzFiling and workplace organization

  Leitz is a European office-organization brand added through the Esselte Group acquisition. It is associated with filing, storage, desktop organization, and related workplace products. Its presence strengthens ACCO Brands' ability to serve European business and retail customers with products positioned around structured document management and professional workspace organization.

• PowerAGaming controllers and accessories2020

  PowerA develops video-game controllers and gaming accessories. Acquired by ACCO Brands in 2020, it expanded the company's technology portfolio into gaming peripherals and created a channel distinct from traditional office and school products. The brand complements Kensington by giving ACCO Brands exposure to consumer electronics accessories and interactive entertainment.

• 2023Appoint Thomas W. Tedford as chief executive officerOther

  The company made a senior leadership transition after Boris Elisman's tenure as chief executive.

  What changed. Thomas W. Tedford succeeded Boris Elisman as chief executive officer.

  Aftermath. Tedford became responsible for leading the company's diversified office, school, technology, and gaming-products portfolio.

  Source
• 2020Acquire PowerAM&A

  The acquisition supported ACCO Brands' expansion into technology accessories and gaming-related products.

  What changed. ACCO Brands acquired PowerA, a maker of video-game controllers and gaming accessories.

  Aftermath. PowerA added a gaming-peripherals business and broadened ACCO Brands' technology exposure beyond office productivity accessories.

  Source
• 2017Acquire Esselte Group Holdings ABM&A

  ACCO Brands pursued greater scale and distribution reach in European office products.

  What changed. The company acquired Esselte Group Holdings AB.

  Aftermath. ACCO Brands expanded its European position and added Leitz, Esselte, Rapid, and Rexel.

  Source
• 2012Add MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products businessM&A

  ACCO Brands sought to expand its consumer, academic, planning, and stationery offering beyond traditional office equipment.

  What changed. The company combined with MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products business.

  Aftermath. The transaction added Mead, Five Star, Trapper Keeper, AT-A-GLANCE, Cambridge, Day Runner, Hilroy, Tilibra, and Grafons to the portfolio.

  Source
• 2005Combine ACCO World with General Binding CorporationM&A

  Fortune Brands separated ACCO World as part of a corporate restructuring, while General Binding brought complementary expertise in binding, laminating, and document finishing.

  What changed. ACCO World was spun off and merged with General Binding Corporation to create ACCO Brands Corporation.

  Aftermath. The transaction established the present company and created a broader office-products platform with multiple established brands and product categories.

  Source

• 2023Thomas W. Tedford succeeds Boris Elisman as chief executive officer

  Thomas W. Tedford became chief executive officer, succeeding Boris Elisman.

  Leadership change
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• 2020ACCO Brands acquires PowerA

  The acquisition brought PowerA's video-game controllers and gaming accessories into ACCO Brands' technology-oriented portfolio.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2017ACCO Brands acquires Esselte Group Holdings

  The acquisition strengthened ACCO Brands' European position and added brands including Leitz, Esselte, Rapid, and Rexel.

  M&A
  Source
• 2012ACCO Brands expands consumer and office-products portfolio through MeadWestvaco transaction

  The combination with MeadWestvaco's Consumer & Office Products business added Mead, Five Star, Trapper Keeper, AT-A-GLANCE, Cambridge, Day Runner, Hilroy, Tilibra, and Grafons.

  M&A
  Source
• 2005ACCO Brands formed through Fortune Brands spin-off and General Binding combination

  Fortune Brands separated ACCO World and combined it with General Binding Corporation, creating the present ACCO Brands Corporation.

  M&AOther
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1. ACCO Brands
2. ACCO Brands official website