Industry Execs On The Move In 2007

Dec. 20, 2007
Many industry executives took on new responsibilities during the past year. Here are EM’s picks for the biggest personnel changes in 2007.

Many industry executives took on new responsibilities during the past year. Here are EM’s picks for the biggest personnel changes in 2007.

Top-level appointments were common at many manufacturers. After the death of their father-in-law, Harold Leviton, Donald Hendler, the company’s president, took on the additional role of CEO of Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Little Neck, N.Y., and Steve Sokolow became the company’s chairman of the board. In other changes at Leviton, Ed Plaia was appointed vice president/general manager for the company’s commercial and industrial business, and Brad Leland joined Leviton Voice & Data in Bothell, Wash., as vice president of sales.

There were several major promotions at EGS Electrical Group, Rosemont, Ill., including the promotion of George Mulligan to president of the company’s Electrical Construction Materials Group, replacing Ron Orcutt, who is retiring; Joe Corrigan to vice president of operations; Bill Estes to vice president of supply chain; and Mike Kramer to director of operations.

Dennis Sadlowski succeeded Aubert Martin as CEO of Siemens Energy & Automation, Alpharetta, Ga. In other company news, Tom Kopanski was promoted to vice president of the power distribution and controls division, and Raj Batra became vice president of the automation and motion division.

At Generac Power Systems, Waukesha, Wis., Aaron Jagfeld became president and Clement Feng chief marketing officer. In other senior-level appointments, Ken Martell was promoted to president of Salisbury Electrical Safety, Skokie, Ill.; J. Timothy Dunn became president of Solon Manufacturing Co., Chardon, Ohio; Stephen Anderson was named CEO of ProtectConnect, Irvine, Calif.; and Chuck Spears became president of Liebert North America, Columbus, Ohio.

In other major manufacturer appointments, Ned Camuti joined Thomas & Betts, Memphis, Tenn., as president of its U.S. electrical business; Pat Davin became vice president and general manager at Pass & Seymour/Legrand, Syracuse, N.Y.; and John Hoffman was promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s Electrical Wiring Systems division.

Hubbell Inc., Orange, Conn., and Schneider Electric’s North American Operating Division in Palatine, Ill., were in the news, too. Hubbell promoted Bob Murphy to vice president of marketing and sales, and Schneider appointed Kristin Johnson-Holz to vice president of marketing from her senior executive post with Grainger, and promoted Ralph Harris to vice president of U.S. sales.

In other manufacturer news, Andrew Quinn became executive vice president of ILSCO, Cincinnati; Lennart Jonsson was promoted to vice president, technology and chief technology officer, Eaton Corp., Cleveland; and John Spencer joined Ideal Industries Inc., Sycamore, Ill., as national accounts manager.

Wire and cable. Following its acquisition of Copperfield, Coleman Cable Inc., Waukegan, Ill., announced several promotions. Jeff Johnston moved to executive vice president of operations; Ken McAllister became senior vice president; Kurt Hennelly was appointed senior vice president of supply chain; and Kathy Jo Van was promoted to senior vice president of corporate marketing and business development.

In other wire and cable news, Mark Thackeray was promoted to senior vice president, General Cable, Highland Heights, Ky. At Omni Cable Corp., West Chester, Pa., Pete Comber became executive vice president and David DiDonato was appointed national sales manager.

Lighting market. Francisco Santiago became executive vice president for Osram Sylvania, Danvers, Mass.; and Sam Newberry became vice president of sales for Amerlux Lighting Solutions, Fairfield, N.J.; Dan Cheetham joined Universal Lighting Technologies, Nashville, Tenn., as vice president of OEM and international sales; and Wayne Anthony became vice president of sales and marketing for Nicor, Albuquerque, N.M.

Buying groups and industry alliances. At Affiliated Distributors, King of Prussia, Pa., David Oldfather was promoted to senior vice president and Peter Classon became vice president of information technology. IMARK Group, Oxon Hill, Md., had some big news, too, as Bob Smith joined the group from Legrand to succeed retiring Steve Cunningham as president. Gary DeVost was appointed president and CEO of Vanguard National Alliance (VNA) Inc., Framingham, Mass.

Distributors. Following the retirement of CEO Ben Herr at Dakota Supply Group, Fargo, N.D., Todd Kumm was appointed CEO and Tom Rosendahl was named president. After the acquisition of Minnesota Electric Supply by Border States Industries, Steve Peterson, the company’s president and CEO, moved south and became area sales manager for central Texas for Summit Electric Supply, Albuquerque.

Other distributors taking on lead roles included Jeremey de Brabant, director of Rexel UK, who became senior vice president and CEO of Rexel Inc., and D. Gregory Wilson, who was appointed president of Needham Electric Supply Corp. (NESCO), Canton, Mass.

In other distributor news, Dennis Cook joined Electrical Wholesalers/USESI/CED as vice president of business development in Stoughton, Mass., after a career as a lighting manufacturer; Ron Lim became vice president of sales and marketing for Griffith Electric Supply, Trenton, N.J.; and Greg Smith was promoted to vice president of corporate development, Granite City Electric Supply, Quincy, Mass.

Other vice presidential announcements at electrical supply houses included the appointment of Dean Krout as vice president of marketing and information systems for Schaedler YESCO Distribution, Harrisburg, Pa.; and the appointments at Eoff Electric/Sonepar USA, of Pat LeVeaux as vice president/general manager and Dale Denfield as vice president — operations.