IDEA’s Gaylord Steps Down, Ex-Schneider CEO Curtis to Manage Ops and Lead Search

Former Schneider North America CEO Chris Curtis will lead IDEA's day-to-day operations and the search for a new president following Bob Gaylord's departure after seven years leading the electrical industry data organization.
Aug. 7, 2014
Former Schneider North America CEO Chris Curtis left will lead IDEA39s daytoday operations and the search for a new president following Bob Gaylord39s departure after seven years leading the electrical industry data organization
Former Schneider North America CEO Chris Curtis (left) will lead IDEA's day-to-day operations and the search for a new president following Bob Gaylord's departure after seven years leading the electrical industry data organization.
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Former Schneider North America CEO Chris Curtis (left) will lead IDEA's day-to-day operations and the search for a new president following Bob Gaylord's departure after seven years leading the electrical industry data organization.

The IDEA Board of Directors, chaired by Jack Carlson (president of Southwire’s North American Business), announced that CEO and President Bob Gaylord has stepped down to pursue other areas of interest.

IDEA, Rosslyn, Va., is jointly owned by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). “The IDEA board and the entire organization thanks Bob for his leadership and service to the electrical industry community during the last seven years as CEO,” said Carlson.

With Gaylord’s departure, the IDEA board has named Chris Curtis, former CEO of Schneider Electric’s North American Operations, current chairman of the NEMA Board of Governors, and an IDEA board member, to manage the day-to-day operations of IDEA while chairing the search process for a new executive officer.

About the Author

Doug Chandler, Senior Staff Writer

Executive Editor

Doug Chandler began writing about the electrical industry in 1992, and still finds there's never a shortage of stories to be told. So he spends his days finding them and telling them. Educationally, he's a Jayhawk with an English degree. Outside of work, he can often be found banging drums or harvesting tomatoes.