Diggecard group chief executive Andrew Johnson has received the 2026 IMA President's Award, with the Incentive Marketing Association citing his work on industry knowledge sharing and collaboration across its regional chapters. The award was presented at the IMA Summit ceremony in Baltimore on July 21; IMA published its recipient announcement on July 22. [S01] [S02]

The recognition concerns service to the incentive industry. The association says the award acknowledges work that advances awareness of incentives, supports suppliers and encourages professional standards. It was selected by Brian Dodds, the 2025-2026 IMA president and vice president of sales at Dash Solutions. [S01]

From gift-card operations to association work

Johnson leads Diggecard's group strategy and previously served as director general of the Gift Card & Voucher Association. IMA describes his career as spanning more than 25 years, with experience in retail, leisure, hospitality, platform partnerships and corporate programmes. [S01]

That background places him at the intersection of companies that operate gift-card programmes and the trade bodies representing their suppliers. The award announcement identifies Diggecard's work with clients including LEGO, but provides no new customer contract, revenue figure or programme launch.

Johnson was IMA Europe president and served as an IMA board director from 2022 to 2026. At the time of the award announcement, he chaired its Knowledge-Sharing Committee and served on its Strategic Planning/Globalization Planning Committee. IMA also cited his support for the development of its Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific chapter. [S01]

A separate event from his earlier appointment

Gift Card News previously reported Johnson's appointment as IMA Europe president, which Diggecard announced in June 2022. The July 2026 award is a separate event recognising subsequent industry service.

For the gift-card sector, the specific news is the association's recognition of a supplier executive whose work also includes education and regional trade-body coordination. The selection is an IMA judgement of that contribution, rather than an independent ranking of gift-card platforms or evidence of commercial results.

The ceremony took place at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. IMA's earlier shortlist announcement identified July 21 as the awards date, resolving the distinction between the ceremony and the recipient notice published the following day. [S02]