Zekelman Industries (Chicago, IL)
Kevin Heffernan (in photo above) has been appointed president of the company’s electrical business effective Jan. 1, 2026. He will be succeeding Jim Hays, who is retiring after 14 years at Zekleman, including the last twelve leading the electrical business.
Heffernan brings more than 25 years of executive leadership across industrial and commercial markets to his new role where he will oversee strategy and execution across sales, customer service, production planning and supply chain. Heffernan’s immediate priorities include continuing the commercial realignment, strengthening sales and operations integration, elevating the customer experience, and accelerating profitable growth. He joined Zekelman Industries as senior VP-Electrical in Jan. 2025.
Heffernan’s promotion follows the planned retirement of Hays, who joined the organization in 2011. Under Hays’ guidance, the electrical business grew to be the largest steel conduit and fittings supplier in North America. Hays also served as a leader with multiple industry associations and fought against unfairly traded steel conduit products.
Graybar (St. Louis, MO)
Andrew Ipson and Danna Stone were elected to the company’s board of directors. Ipson, who currently serves as senior VP-Supply Chain Management, has 27 years of industry experience. He joined Graybar in 2008 as a branch manager in California, and was promoted to director, Electrical Sales in 2017. He was named VP-Strategic Accounts in 2021 and later served as District VP in St. Louis. Ipson was promoted to his current role earlier this year, and he will assume the expanded role of senior VP Sales and Service on Jan. 1, 2026.
Stone, who currently serves as senior VP - Marketing, has 26 years of industry experience. She joined Graybar in 2014 as VP - Strategic Accounts. She became district VP in St. Louis in 2015 and was named VP -Category Management in 2022. She was named VP- Marketing in 2024 and promoted into her current role earlier this year.
In other news at Graybar, the company announced the following leadership changes that will take effect in early 2026:
Dennis DeSousa, currently chief of staff and a member of Graybar’s board of directors, will retire on April 1, 2026, after nearly four decades with the company.
Ellen Rebne, now senior VP -Sales, will retire on Jan. 1, 2026, after more than 36 years with the company.
Andy Ipson, who currently serves as senior VP-Supply Chain Management will take on expanded responsibilities as senior VP-Sales and Service on Jan. 1, 2026. In this role, he will provide strategic direction for both sales and service, while maintaining oversight of the company’s operations and supply chain functions.
Regis Ganley will be promoted to VP -Market Development on Jan. 1, 2026. He currently serves as director of Business Development.
Paul Steckler will be promoted to VP- Investment and Inventory Management on Jan. 1, 2026. He currently serves as director of Inventory Management and Optimization.
W. Russell Wood will be promoted to VP-Category Management on Jan. 1, 2026. He currently serves as director of Business Development.
Wesco (Pittsburgh, PA)
Danny Castillo is now executive VP and general manager of the company’s Electrical and Electronic Solutions business, according to a Linkedin post. In this role, he will work to advance Wesco’s position in the construction, industrial and OEM segments. He will also focus on driving business for infrastructure projects, AI-driven data center development and North American reshoring efforts.
Fromm (Reading, PA)
John Hanna, president and COO, will become CEO of the company effective Jan. 1, 2026. This transition culminates a succession plan designed to support Fromm’s continued growth and sustainability.
Over nearly three decades, Hanna has been a driving force behind many of Fromm’s most important initiatives, from expanding into new markets to building a highly talented management team. He has held numerous key leadership roles in the electrical industry, most notably with Affiliated Distributors (AD) and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED).
Michael Fromm, a third-generation family member who joined the business in 1991 and served as its CEO since 2009, oversaw significant growth through four acquisitions and the launch of an engineering services subsidiary. He will continue with the company as chairman of the board.
REP NEWS
RB Sales, a division of Electris360, based in Hiawatha, IA, will represent ABB Installation Products (previously Thomas & Betts), in Iowa, Kansas, most of Nebraska and western Missouri, effective Dec. 18.
“This partnership represents a significant milestone for our team,” said Bill Devereaux, president of Electris360, in the press release. “RB Sales is fully committed to leveraging our strong market relationships, deep technical expertise, and customer-focused execution to support ABB and drive growth across the Central Region.”
EiKo named Curtis Stout, Jackson, MS, as its rep for Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee, according to a LinkedIn post.