Grainger Names New Chief Operating Officer

Former Grainger Senior Vice President DG Macpherson takes the newly created role, effective Aug. 1, while another executive is leaving the company.

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Grainger, No. 3 on Industrial Distribution's 2014 Big 50 List, on Monday announced that DG Macpherson has been named to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, effective Aug. 1.

Reporting to Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Jim Ryan, Macpherson will have oversight and accountability for all of the operating units of the company globally, including the company's multi-channel and single channel business models as well as Enterprise Systems.

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Most recently, Macpherson was Grainger Senior Vice President and Group President, Global Supply Chain and International.

The company said the change in leadership structure will drive greater growth and ensure tighter coordination between operating functions, business units and business models.

"This change helps position our company for growth across multiple customer segments by increasing alignment across our businesses and improving execution," Ryan said. "I have great confidence in DG's abilities as COO. He's strategic, understands the external market and is very focused on the talent needs of the organization now and in the future. This decision is part of our ongoing talent development and succession planning process."

As part of the changes, Court Carruthers, Senior Vice President and Group President, Americas, will be leaving Grainger at the end of July. "It's hard to say goodbye to such a dynamic and talented leader as Court," Ryan said. "He has made countless contributions across all aspects of Grainger's operations over the past 13 years and I know he will continue to be very successful in the future." 

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