AD Founder David Weisberg Passes Away

David Weisberg, the founder of based distributor buying/marketing group Affiliated Distributors (AD), Wayne, Pa., died peacefully at his home in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 22, surrounded by family.  He was 89 years old.

Weisberg was an icon in the electrical industry whose work to support the partnership between manufacturer’s and independent distribution brought significant change to the industry.

In a letter announcing Weisberg’s passing, AD Electrical Division president Ed Crawford related how Weisberg described his guiding principle in the formation of Affiliated Distributors as being to “promote a more productive partnership between distributors and manufacturers; a partnership that would offer substance and value where both parties would benefit”.

Weisberg graduated from Temple University with a degree in Marketing after serving in the military.  He began his career as a sales rep for Graybar Electric and later joined Progress Lighting, where he rose to be the company’s president, then left Progress In 1981, at age 55, in a quest to help independent, family-owned electrical distributors run their business more profitably and professionally. He started AD with 48 founding electrical distributors and served as its chairman and CEO until his retirement in 1991. Today, AD has grown to over 570 Members, spanning seven industries, three countries, and with collective annual sales of over $31 billion.

Bill Weisberg, AD’s current chairman and CEO, said, “My father was an incredibly creative and warm hearted person.  He had a deep-seated drive and a passion to bring value to others.  In addition to being a successful businessperson he was a talented artist and a devoted husband.  He was a great inspiration to me, and his life will have lasting impact on the lives and businesses of many others.”