Crescent Electric Supply Co. has promoted Kristee Mitchell to chief supply chain officer, putting her in charge of key supply chain and distribution operations across one of the nation’s largest independent electrical distributors.

Mitchell, who joined Crescent in 2023, moved into the newly expanded role Aug. 31 after most recently serving as vice president of supply chain fulfillment.

She will oversee supplier partnerships, supply chain fulfillment, distribution center operations, transportation management, and operational excellence across the company. The responsibilities give Mitchell broad oversight of the operations that move products from suppliers through Crescent’s distribution network and to customers.

The East Dubuque, Illinois-based distributor said the promotion is part of its continuing effort to evolve its organizational structure and improve operational performance.

“We congratulate Kristee on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to the results that she will drive,” CEO Penny Cotner said.

Mitchell holds an executive Master of Business Administration in global supply chain management from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Michigan State University.

Crescent operates at more than 140 branches in 28 states and serves contractors, original equipment manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and operations customers in commercial, industrial, institutional, and utility markets.

In addition to its Crescent Electric operations, the company’s regional brands include BA Supply in Missouri; Interstate Electric Supply in Idaho and Oregon; Mesco Electrical Supply in Ohio; National Electric Supply in New Mexico; Womack Electric Supply in Virginia and North Carolina; Stoneway Electric in Washington and Idaho; and Lowe Electric in Georgia and South Carolina.

The promotion puts Mitchell at the center of Crescent’s efforts to coordinate suppliers, inventory movement, distribution center operations and transportation across that multistate network, functions that directly affect product availability, delivery performance, and customer service.

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Lowe’s Companies Inc. has reshuffled its senior leadership team, moving executives into new roles overseeing Pro, stores and artificial intelligence and making two additional executive appointments as the home improvement retailer looks to accelerate its next phase of growth.

The changes took effect Sept. 1 and span five executive vice president positions, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lowe’s approved the appointments Aug. 28 and disclosed them in a Form 8-K filed Sept. 2.

Joseph M. McFarland III, previously executive vice president of stores, was named executive vice president of Pro and Home Services. Quonta D. Vance, previously executive vice president of Pro and Home Services, was named executive vice president of stores.

The moves put McFarland in charge of one of Lowe’s most important growth areas as the company continues expanding its business with professional contractors.

Lowe’s has been building out its Pro capabilities with expanded product access, digital quoting and purchasing tools, job-lot quantities, and direct-to-jobsite delivery. Its Pro Extended Aisle includes an expanded digital catalog with real-time inventory and pricing and a growing supplier network.

Lowe’s also elevated artificial intelligence within its technology organization. Seemantini Godbole, previously executive vice president and chief digital and information officer, was named executive vice president and chief information and AI officer.

In the expanded position, Godbole leads Lowe’s global technology organization, including engineering, product roadmaps, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, information security, and innovation, according to the company.

Lowe’s also appointed Adam D. Filipponi executive vice president of strategy and business development and Jennifer E. Wilson executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

The executive changes come after several years of investment by Lowe’s in Pro, digital, loyalty, fulfillment, and Home Services. The company said the appointments are intended to better connect those capabilities, establish clearer accountability, and allow Lowe’s to move faster on its largest growth opportunities.

The restructuring also puts Lowe’s Pro strategy under new leadership at a time when the retailer is expanding beyond the traditional store-based home improvement model. Its growing emphasis on professional contractors, larger orders, expanded supplier access and jobsite delivery increasingly puts Lowe’s into markets also served by building products and specialty distributors.

Lowe’s said the broader leadership changes are designed to strengthen execution of its Total Home strategy and position the company for its next phase of growth.

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HVAC distributor mSupply has named Richard Garza vice president of HR operations, adding an executive with mergers and acquisitions and systems experience to the HVAC, appliance, and plumbing distributor.

St. Louis-based mSupply said Garza will lead its total rewards and payroll teams.

Garza has more than a decade of human resources leadership experience, including work on mergers and acquisitions, HR information system implementations and migrations, and compensation and benefits strategy, according to the company. He also has experience scaling HR operations during periods of organizational growth and change.

Garza has held senior HR positions across several industries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on human resources management from the University of Texas and pursued graduate studies in mergers and acquisitions and HR information systems at Houston Christian University.

mSupply is a North American distributor of original equipment manufacturer repair parts and equipment serving the appliance, HVAC, and plumbing industries. The company has about 2,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada and operates a national distribution network.

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QXO Inc. has named Honeywell executive Ken West president and chief operating officer as the building products distributor works to integrate acquisitions and expand its operations.

West will join QXO effective Sept. 1 and report to Chairman and CEO Brad Jacobs, the Greenwich, Connecticut-based company said Aug. 24. He will oversee QXO’s day-to-day operations.

West most recently served as president and CEO of Honeywell Process Technology. He joined Honeywell in 2018 and held leadership positions across several of its industrial businesses during a period in which the company began separating into three publicly traded companies.

His experience includes integrating large acquisitions, an area that will be important as QXO combines businesses acquired through its expansion in building products distribution.

At Honeywell, West led the company’s 2025 acquisition of Sundyne and its integration with Honeywell’s automation and digital operations. More recently, he led the acquisition of Johnson Matthey’s Catalyst Technologies business and the subsequent integration process.

“Ken is an exceptional operator with the executional rigor to lead QXO’s operations,” Jacobs said. “He has demonstrated an ability to achieve outstanding results across a number of industrial businesses.”

QXO said West’s integration experience will support its efforts to combine acquired businesses with the technology systems it is developing across the company. The distributor has identified pricing, procurement, and sales as areas where it expects integration and technology to improve operating performance and customer experience.

The appointment comes as QXO manages a larger building products distribution business following a series of acquisitions.

QXO acquired Beacon Roofing Supply in 2025, establishing a large national roofing and building products distribution network. The company has since continued its expansion through transactions involving Kodiak Building Partners and TopBuild.

Those deals have increased the importance of integrating purchasing, pricing, sales, technology, logistics and other operations across businesses that previously operated independently.

West has more than 20 years of experience in operations, strategy, finance, and integration.

During his six years at Honeywell, he rose to lead three major business segments. Before heading Honeywell Process Technology, West served as president and CEO of Energy and Sustainability Solutions, president and CEO of Honeywell UOP, and president of Honeywell Advanced Materials.

In his most recent role, he also helped oversee changes to Honeywell’s process technology operations, including the separation of the business now known as Solstice Advanced Materials.

Before joining Honeywell, West spent 13 years at PPG Industries. He served as global vice president of packaging coatings and held positions in operations, integration, corporate planning, and finance.

West also led the integration of AkzoNobel’s North American architectural coatings business following PPG’s acquisition of the operations.

“I’m excited to join QXO at this pivotal moment in its growth,” West said. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to build the preeminent company in the building products industry, and I’m eager to help transform the QXO team’s bold vision into reality.”

QXO is North America’s largest distributor and installer of insulation and the second-largest distributor of roofing products. The company also describes itself as the second largest publicly traded distributor of lumber and building materials and the largest distributor of waterproofing products.

QXO has set a goal of reaching $50 billion in annual revenue within the decade through acquisitions and growth from its existing businesses.

West holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.

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Midland Industries has named Mark Roszkowski CEO, putting the former Quill president in charge of an industrial distributor with 11 facilities in the U.S. and Canada.

Midland announced the appointment on Aug. 13. The company did not identify Roszkowski’s predecessor or disclose additional details about the leadership change.

Roszkowski joined Midland in June after serving as president of Quill, the business supplies distributor, according to his professional profile. His background also includes executive roles spanning sales, operations, engineering, finance, and corporate strategy.

At Midland, Roszkowski will oversee a business that distributes fittings, valves, hoses, clamps and related flow-control and connection products. The company serves customers in manufacturing, plumbing, utilities, HVAC, fluid power, and other industrial markets.

Founded in 1919 and based in Kansas City, Midland markets about 37,000 products through 11 facilities across the U.S. and Canada.

Roszkowski said his priorities will include the company’s growth strategy and operations, as well as investments in employees and customer and supplier relationships.

“Mark is an accomplished leader with the experience, commercial orientation and operational discipline to help Midland continue building on its established foundation,” said Alex Funk, managing director at Gemspring Capital.

Roszkowski said he plans to work with Midland employees, customers, and business partners as he takes over the company.

“I look forward to working closely with the Midland team, our customers and our partners to build on the company’s momentum,” he said.

Midland is a portfolio company of Gemspring Capital, a Westport, Connecticut-based private equity firm with $5.1 billion in capital under management.

The appointment puts Roszkowski at the head of Midland as the distributor continues to build its position across industrial flow-control and connection-product markets.

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Saddle Creek Logistics Services has promoted chief operating officer Grady Martin to CEO, succeeding Mark Cabrera, who retired July 1 after leading the third-party logistics provider since 2015.

The leadership change took effect July 1 as part of a planned succession.

Martin most recently served as COO, where he helped oversee the company’s operations, technology initiatives, and long-term growth strategy. Saddle Creek credited him with strengthening its warehousing, fulfillment and transportation operations while helping customers respond to changing supply chain requirements.

As CEO, Martin will lead the company’s next phase of growth, with a focus on investing in technology, expanding logistics capabilities and maintaining its customer-focused operating strategy.

Martin said he plans to build on the company’s existing strategy.

“I’m honored to step into this role and build on the strong foundation Mark and our leadership team have established,” Martin said. “Saddle Creek’s success has always been driven by our people, our partnerships and our ability to adapt to our clients’ evolving needs.”

Cabrera joined Saddle Creek in 2001 as chief financial officer before becoming chief operating officer. He was named CEO in 2015. During his tenure, the company expanded its national network and invested in warehousing, transportation and omnichannel fulfillment capabilities.

Saddle Creek provides warehousing, fulfillment and transportation services for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors throughout the United States. The leadership transition comes as third-party logistics providers continue investing in automation and technology to help customers improve supply chain efficiency.

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McNichols Co. has named a new president as the specialty metals distributor moves into its next phase of growth following a strategic investment by private equity firm One Equity Partners in October 2025.

Mateus Panosso joins the Tampa, Florida-based company after serving as head of company-owned distribution at Wilsonart, where he led efforts to expand the engineered surfaces manufacturer’s distribution business through acquisitions, greenfield locations, value-added services, and new product offerings.

Prior to Wilsonart, Panosso was vice president of strategy and corporate development at Armstrong World Industries, where he established the company’s mergers and acquisitions function, completed multiple acquisitions and led the divestiture of its European and Asian businesses. Earlier in his career, he held strategy, business development and operating leadership roles at DuPont and co-founded an import-export distribution company.

CEO Scott McNichols said the appointment supports the company’s long-term growth strategy as it continues its partnership with One Equity Partners.

McNichols operates nineteen service centers across the United States and distributes and fabricates specialty metals and fiberglass products, including perforated and expanded metals, wire mesh, grating, and industrial flooring products. The company serves customers throughout the United States and internationally.

The leadership appointment is the company’s first major executive announcement since One Equity Partners made its investment in McNICHOLS in late 2025. The private equity firm focuses on middle-market industrial, healthcare and technology companies in North America and Europe.

Panosso holds bachelor’s degrees in business and Russian from Miami University, an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Pennsylvania’s Lauder Institute.

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Imperial Brady has appointed Willis Weirich as senior vice president of operations, adding a veteran supply chain executive to oversee logistics, warehouse operations, inventory management, safety, and operational integration across the company’s North American network.

Weirich reports to Chief Executive Officer Jason Tillis and joins the distributor after serving as executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at SRS Distribution, where he led the company’s national supply chain organization during a period of significant growth and expansion.

Prior to SRS, Weirich held senior leadership positions at Neiman Marcus, Target, and Airgas.

The appointment comes as distributors across multiple sectors continue investing in supply chain capabilities to improve efficiency, manage inventory more effectively and support growth initiatives.

At Imperial Brady, Weirich will be responsible for overseeing logistics operations, warehouse performance, inventory management, safety programs, and operational integration efforts. The role is particularly important as distributors seek to standardize processes and improve execution across increasingly complex distribution networks.

Weirich said he was attracted to the company’s reputation and customer-focused culture.

“The organization has built a strong reputation and a customer-focused culture,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to advancing operational excellence, supporting our customers and helping drive continued growth.”

Imperial Brady distributes cleaning and facility care products, food service supplies, and packaging materials throughout North America. The company employs more than 13,000 people and operates an extensive supply chain network serving customers across the United States and Canada.

The hiring adds another experienced distribution and supply chain executive to Imperial Brady’s leadership team as the company continues to focus on operational performance, customer service, and long-term growth.Do not miss any content from Distribution Strategy Group. Join our list.

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Owens & Minor, a distributor of medical and surgical supplies serving hospitals, health systems and other healthcare providers, has named former McKesson executive Jim Marshall chief executive officer as the company reshapes its leadership team under private equity ownership.

Marshall succeeds Christian Cook, who had been serving as interim CEO and will become chairman of the board. The changes are effective immediately.

Marshall spent 20 years at McKesson, most recently serving as senior vice president of health systems, where he oversaw a portfolio serving healthcare providers nationwide. Earlier, he led McKesson’s U.S. Pharma operations division as vice president and general manager.

“I am honored to lead an organization that recognizes that the heart and soul of the healthcare supply chain are the people who make it possible,” Marshall said in a statement.

Owens & Minor also named Marc Rottink chief operating officer, Colin Bain chief products officer, and Dirk Benson chief commercial officer as part of a broader leadership overhaul.

Rottink joins from Smith+Nephew, where he served as senior vice president of global supply chain and customer care. He previously held supply chain leadership positions at Medtronic. Owens & Minor said Rottink will help lead operational and automation initiatives across its distribution and supply chain network.

Bain most recently was a partner at Javelyst Healthcare Challengers. Earlier in his career, he served as president of Premier’s S2S Global manufacturing business, where he oversaw product portfolio expansion and supply chain resiliency initiatives. Owens & Minor said Bain will lead product portfolio strategy across acute care, non-acute care, and adjacent healthcare markets.

Benson joins from Henry Schein, where he served as president of the company’s U.S. distribution business and led commercial and operational integration efforts. Before Henry Schein, Benson spent 27 years at Medline Industries in senior leadership roles. He will oversee commercial strategy, sales operations, and customer service activities in the United States.

The appointments come about five months after Platinum Equity completed its $375 million acquisition of Owens & Minor’s Products and Healthcare Services segment from what is now Accendra Health. The transaction transferred the Owens & Minor brand and operating business to Platinum Equity.

Owens & Minor now operates as a standalone private company serving more than 4,100 healthcare facilities nationwide with more than 200,000 products sourced from over 1,400 suppliers. The company employs approximately 14,000 people globally.

The executive overhaul signals Platinum Equity’s intention to expand Owens & Minor’s operational and commercial capabilities rather than pursue a traditional cost-cutting restructuring. Several of the new executives bring backgrounds in healthcare distribution, supply chain modernization, and large-scale operational integration.

For healthcare distributors, the changes could intensify competition across hospitals and health system supply chains as Owens & Minor invests in automation, fulfillment operations, and customer service capabilities under private equity ownership.

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BakeMark has appointed Sean Leer as chief executive officer, effective immediately, as the bakery ingredients distributor and manufacturer positions itself for further expansion across North America.

Leer succeeds Jim Parker, who led the company for more than 30 years and will remain executive chairman, the company said Tuesday.

BakeMark, based in Pico Rivera, California, distributes bakery ingredients, supplies, and related products to more than 30,000 customers across the United States and Canada. The company operates seven manufacturing facilities and 39 distribution centers and carries more than 10,000 active stockkeeping units.

Leer most recently served as CEO of GS Foods Group, a foodservice distributor focused on school nutrition and institutional markets. BakeMark said he will lead efforts to expand the company’s customer base, broaden product and service offerings, and grow its manufacturing and distribution footprint.

BakeMark is backed by Clearlake Capital, the private equity firm that acquired the company in 2025.

In a joint statement, Clearlake executives José Feliciano and Arta Tabaee said Leer’s background in scaling foodservice distribution businesses positioned him to lead BakeMark through its next phase of growth.

Leer said BakeMark’s existing distribution network, product portfolio and customer relationships provide a foundation for expansion in both local and national bakery markets.

Parker said the leadership transition comes as the company continues to invest in operational growth and customer service capabilities.

BakeMark traces its history back more than 200 years and markets proprietary brands including Westco, Trigal Dorado, Best Brands and BakeSense.

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