Graybar (www.graybar.com) has initiated a corporate-wide reorganization that took effect Thursday, November 1. At corporate headquarters in St. Louis, MO, the company is bringing all of its sales and marketing under one senior vice president, consolidating its operations functions under one leader, and establishing a new position of senior vice president of business management to oversee its districts and branches.
The changes also affect some managers' responsibilities with respect to electrical and communications/data cabling.
Graybar is establishing a structure in its field organization revolving around geographical business groups made up of multiple districts. Group vice presidents were named to head these business entities. They will be responsible for the districts' net profitability and operations. Graybar says the move will free its district vice presidents to concentrate on building market share.
At the corporate level, Graybar named three executives to senior vice president positions. Charles R. Udell, formerly senior vice president of electrical business, was appointed senior vice president of business management. He will be responsible for eight newly formed business groups. Dennis E. DeSousa, formerly senior vice president of comm/data business, was named senior vice president of sales and marketing. He will lead the company's marketing organization for both the electrical and comm/data business. Golden W. Harper, formerly vice president of operations, was named senior vice president of operations. His responsibilities will include logistics, inventory management, and service organization.
"These moves coincide closely with the completion of Graybar's logistics network of regional zone warehouses" the company said when announcing the change. "All 16 facilities will be in operation in the first quarter next year."
Eight newly appointed group vice presidents come from the ranks of the company's district vice presidents. Each will have geographic responsibilities for one or more of Graybar's current districts, including the comm/data districts.
The group vice presidents, and their districts, are: Donald M. Block, New York, Boston and Northeastern Comm/Data; Thomas S. Gurganous, Pittsburgh, Richmond, and the newly created Eastern Comm/Data; Richard D. Offenbacher, Atlanta, Tampa, and Southeastern Comm/Data; Richard A. Cole, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Chicago, and North Central Comm/Data; John C. Loff, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, and Midwest Comm/Data; Kenneth B. Sparks, Seattle, Phoenix, and Western Comm/Data; and Gary D. Hodges, California and California Comm/Data. Additionally, John C. Mansfield, who heads Graybar's district serving Lucent Technologies, was promoted to group vice president.
Rob B. Bezjak, who is currently district vice president of the Midwest Comm/Data District, has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president of markets, at corporate headquarters. Alan L. Eddings, vice president of comm/data marketing, has been appointed to the new position of vice president of comm/data products. And Bruce C. Judkins, vice president of electrical marketing, has been appointed to the new position of vice president of electrical products. All three report to Dennis DeSousa.
Additional information, including other appointments, is available at Graybar's Web site.
