Chip Hornsby, currently president/CEO of Ferguson, will assume the additional role of chief executive North America. To support Hornsby in his new dual role, Ferguson is appointing John Stegeman as chief operating officer. Stegeman has been with Ferguson 19 years, serving as senior vice president of the waterworks business for the past four years.

Fenton Hord will remain as chief executive of Stock Building Supply and continue to serve on the board of Wolseley plc. Paul Lachance will continue to be chief executive of Wolseley Canada. Both positions will report to Chip Hornsby in the new structure.

Other senior appointments for Wolseley North America include: Dave O'Halloran, chief finance officer; Tom Mitchell, senior vice president/acquisitions; Frank Roach, senior vice president/business groups; Larry Stoddard, senior vice president/business development; John Wilcox, senior vice president/alignment and coordination; Jim Feltman, senior vice president/strategic planning; Al Byrd, senior vice president/supply chain; Mike Brooks, vice president/information technology; Gary Robinette, executive vice president/branch operations; and Doug Strup, senior vice president/branch operations.

The restructuring will be effective August 1 and is intended to build a closer relationship between Wolseley's North American businesses, develop more shared branches, develop and use a common infrastructure and offer customers a unique proposition/service in North America, Wolseley said in a statement.

Wolseley said it sees many opportunities to: leverage the resources and infrastructure available in North America to the benefit of each of the business units; achieve significant growth objectives; and improve trading margins. Wolseley North America's management team will focus on strategic planning, managing the assets (including the distribution center network and supply chain) and growing the business, both through acquisition and by organic means.

“Wolseley has made enormous progress in developing the North American businesses over the past few years through acquisition and organic growth,” Charlie Banks, Wolseley's group chief executive said in a statement. “We have a market leading presence in our business areas which provides a unique foundation on which to build an integrated North American business. Chip [Hornsby] has done a fantastic job growing Ferguson and he now has the opportunity to combine the strengths and resources of our three businesses to drive our growth going forward.”

Read exclusive interview with Chip Hornsby in the June 2005 issue of SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES.