People on the Move, New Roles

Seemingly over the past few months there have been a number of management-level people in the industry moving into new roles either at their own company (congratulations on the promotion) or moving to another company. It appears that, in an industry going through consolidation, we’re also playing musical chairs!

Whether the changes are due to people seeking new bosses, new opportunities due to lack of opportunity at their company, perhaps frustration within their company due to the stresses caused over the past few years or just good, old-fashioned, new opportunity, change is happening.

Rather than provide a litany of separate postings, I thought I’d offer a “who’s on the move”, in no particular order:

• Tim Cillessen, formerly VP Sales for Dialight, is now Director of Engineered Solutions for JD Martin.
• Rob Zimmerman, formerly VP Sales – Commercial and Industrial for Cree Lighting is now GM for FRM Lighting & Controls
• Tom Benton, went from GM Luminaires for Current Lighting to principal at PG Enlighten
• Steve Simpson moved from Director of Channel Sales for nVent to VP Global Accounts at nVent and is now VP Electrical Sales at Zekelman with responsibility for Wheatland Tube, Western Tube and Picoma.
• Steve Camilletti as promoted from General Manager North Americ for Picoma to VP Sales for Western Tube
• Winn Wise of Southwire was elevated to EVP and Chief Commercial Officer at Southwire from his prior role as SVP, Electrical Distribution and Retail
• Brendan O’Hare left Rexel, where he was their President & GM Gulf Central Region, to become the President of Sonepar’s Capital Electric operating company (welcome to the MidAtlantic Brendan)
• Shawn Hawkins, formerly Wesco’s VP Commercial Excellence, replaced Brendan as Rexel’s Gulf Central Region President.
• Fromm Electric introduced two new individuals to its executive management team. Leo Francis, formerly District Sales Manager for Wesco, is now VP Construction Sales. Patrick Standish, most recently at Graybar, joined as a Regional Vice President.
• Chris Brown, previously VP of Sales – Distribution and National Accounts for Cree Lighting, joined Lutron as Sales Director.
• Don Masters, formerly Border States’ EVP East Region was promoted to EVP Sales and Marketing for Border States and then elected to its Board of Directors.
• Shawn Kordes, formerly nVent’s Vice President, US Distribution for EFS (Electrical & Fastening Solutons) is now Regal Rexnord’s Vice President North America Sales – Power Efficiency Solutions
• Safford Hazen left Eaton’s Crouse Hinds / B-Line group where he was VP Sales and is now at ABB’s Installation Products group (Thomas & Betts)

While not new to Elliott Electric, three individuals who have new roles that will be higher profile as the company expands are Chris Petty, VP Western Region, Greg Fitzgerald, VP Eastern Region, and Doug Blevins, VP Central Region.

And there may be others that I have missed as these are what I’ve seen / recall from the first of the year. If I missed someone, please mention below in the Comments section or email me and I’ll add them.

Congratulations to all.