ANAB Launches Engagement and Strategy Department

The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) has announced the formation of a new Engagement and Strategy Department. The department expands upon and integrates ANAB’s former Policy and Conformity Assessment Strategy functions, strengthening the organization’s ties with government agencies, regulators, scheme owners, standards developers, and the conformity assessment community worldwide.

“Confidence in products, services, people, systems, and organizations begins long before an accreditation decision is made. It begins with understanding emerging technologies, engaging regulators and industry, participating in standards development, and anticipating where conformity assessment can create value. The Engagement and Strategy Department strengthens ANAB’s ability to lead that conversation, identify future opportunities, and ensure accreditation continues to support innovation, trade, and public confidence.” said Doug Leonard, Executive Director at ANAB.

The new department will work alongside ANAB’s Strategic Business Units, connecting external relationships and market intelligence with strategic opportunity, informed policy development, and conformity assessment innovation. Its work will include stakeholder engagement, standards development facilitation, and the identification of new conformity assessment opportunities, giving ANAB a more direct line between what it learns in the field and how the organization meets evolving customer and stakeholder needs.

Warren Merkel will lead the department as Vice President, Engagement and Strategy.

“Demands on conformity assessment bodies and scheme owners are changing quickly, and ANAB’s ability to listen, engage, and respond is more important than ever before. I am excited to work with this new team to deepen ANAB’s relationships with customers, scheme owners, and other stakeholders while ensuring our accreditation services remain responsive, technically strong, and focused on exceptional competence and quality, as we contribute meaningfully to a broad range of conformity assessment solutions,” said Merkel.

Merkel is joined by Brad Moore, Associate Director, Engagement and Strategy; Patty Nuñez, Manager, Engagement and Strategy; and Keith Mowry, Associate Director, Engagement and Strategy.

The formation of the Engagement and Strategy Department reflects ANAB’s continued commitment to sustaining and improving the quality of life through trusted conformity assessment. It also positions the organization to respond more quickly to the needs of regulators, scheme owners, customers, and the broader conformity assessment community.