Grainger COO Ryan to become CEO

Industrial Distribution staff -- Industrial Distribution, 3/31/2008 6:10:00 AM

W.W. Grainger Inc.'s president and COO, James Ryan, is set to become the company’s CEO effective June 1.

Ryan will succeed Richard Keyser, who is retiring as CEO but will remain chairman of the Lake Forest, Ill.-based broad-line MRO distributor's board.

“Jim becomes the fourth chief executive officer in Grainger's 80-year history and we are fortunate to have someone as talented and qualified as he to take the helm,” Keyser said. “We have worked closely together for the past twenty years as he has moved within the company and during that time, Jim has developed a broad understanding of what makes Grainger so successful.”

Ryan, who joined Grainger in 1980, credited Keyser for the company’s growth during his tenure.

"Thanks to Dick's leadership and foresight, I take over as CEO of a financially strong, highly profitable and well-positioned company with lots of opportunities to continue the growth record in sales and earnings that he has established," Ryan said.

Grainger ranked fourth on INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION’s 2007 Big 50 list of distributors, with 2006 sales of $5.9 billion.

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