Grainger Promotes Michael A. Pulick to President, Grainger Industrial Supply, and...

Grainger Promotes Michael A. Pulick to President, Grainger Industrial Supply,
and D.G. Macpherson to Head Global Supply Chain Function

CHICAGO, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- W. W. Grainger, Inc.
(NYSE: GWW), the leading industrial distributor in North America, announced
today that Michael A. Pulick, Senior Vice President for Customer Service, was
promoted to Senior Vice President and President, Grainger Industrial Supply,
effective November 1, 2008. Pulick, 44, is replacing Y.C. Chen, 61, who will
stay on in a special advisory role with the company. At the same time, D.G.
Macpherson, 41, will be taking on additional responsibility as the head of a
new function.
Y.C. Chen will retire as President, Grainger Industrial Supply, on
November 1, 2008, but will stay on with the company providing guidance
internationally. "Y.C. has served Grainger in many important positions and has
been instrumental in establishing the company's global sourcing business,
improving the supply chain network, and helping to develop the strategic
direction of the company's operations in Canada and Mexico before leading
Grainger Industrial Supply. He leaves behind a business with a strong
foundation for future growth," said Grainger President and Chief Executive
Officer James T. Ryan. "We are pleased to be able to continue to have his
counsel."
Pulick joined Grainger in 1999 from General Electric. He has served as
Director of Supplier Management for Grainger's Custom Solutions business and
Product Category Director for Tools, Metalworking and Custom Products. He was
named Vice President, Product Management, in 2004 and promoted to his current
position in 2006. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from
Michigan Technological University and a master's degree in business
administration from the University of Chicago. He serves as an adjunct
professor at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and is on the board
of directors for Junior Achievement of Chicago.
"Mike has a broad background in supply chain and customer service and a
strong track record of success in our business," said Ryan. "He was
responsible for starting our product line expansion program in 2006 and has
done an outstanding job leading our branch and customer service organization
to new standards of customer satisfaction."
Grainger will also establish a global supply chain function under Senior
Vice President D.G. Macpherson, effective immediately. This new function will
provide global planning, coordination and specialized expertise to the supply
chain organizations in all of Grainger's business units. The initial focus
will be on global supply chain architecture, procurement and supply chain
talent management. Reporting to Macpherson in his new role will be Joseph J.
Stachowicz, President, Grainger Global Sourcing.
Macpherson joined Grainger earlier this year after 12 years with Boston
Consulting Group where he was a partner and managing director. He holds a
bachelor's degree in engineering from Stanford University and a master's
degree in business administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg
School of Management. Ryan added, "D.G. has a broad background in production
systems and continuous improvement. His contribution has already been felt in
the United States, and as we continue to build out our supply chain
internationally, having all of the distribution and sourcing operations
working together will give us broader perspective and allow us to leverage our
scale advantages." Macpherson will continue to lead the supply chain
organization for Grainger Industrial Supply under Pulick, but in this new
function he will report directly to Grainger's President and Chief Executive
Officer.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. with 2007 sales of $6.4 billion is the leading broad
line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and
institutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Panama. Through a
highly integrated network including more than 600 branches, 18 distribution
centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger's employees help customers get the
job done.
SOURCE W. W. Grainger, Inc.

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