AD Completes Planned Transition to Member Ownership
Sept 4, 2018
AD, the contractor and industrial products wholesale buying / marketing group, has completed a transition of ownership from AD’s long-time Chairman & CEO, Bill Weisberg, to the buying group’s distributor members.
AD was founded in 1981 by Bill Weisberg’s father, David Weisberg. Bill became sole owner and Chairman of the group in 1991. Under Bill’s leadership, AD expanded into seven additional wholesale industries, entered Canada and Mexico, and increased member services to include eCommerce, HR and Procurement. Total annual sales for the group’s members increased from US$2.9 billion to over US$35 billion. Net distributions to group members grew from US$31 million to more than US$650 million per year.
“One of the saddest things to witness in any industry is what happens when an independent distributor sells to a national chain,” says Bill Weisberg. “Long time suppliers, customers and employees are often negatively affected. And so, it was important to me, as a person who’s spent almost my entire career at AD, that it would transition to people and companies that highly valued our culture, people, strategy and services. I’m very pleased that AD’s members are now our owners and will directly elect AD’s Board. There’s no doubt in my mind that under their direction, the management team and I can continue to serve our members and supplier partners with great distinction and provide fulfilling work, in a positive environment, for our associates.
”Tim Horsman, President & CEO, E.B. Horsman Company commented, “For many of us long-time members, we felt it was important to solidify the future of AD. With this transition, AD is set for long-term business continuity. Additionally, I am very pleased that AD’s members in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have equal rights in the structure.
”According to Tammy Miller, CEO of Border States and a member of the AD Special Committee, “The finalization of this process was a natural evolution. AD members have always had a strong voice in the organization. But there are important governing differences when an entity changes from having one owner to having hundreds. The Board of Directors, elected by AD’s owner members, is now its governing body and has fiduciary responsibilities to those owners.
”The initial directors of the AD LLC Board are:
• Tim Arenberg, Columbia Pipe & Supply
• Martin Deschenes, Group Deschenes
• Jeff Hockin, Crum Electric Supply
• Tim Horsman, E.B. Horsman Company
• Lenin Juarez, Action Gypsum Supply, LP
• Tammy Miller, Border States
• Brian Peirce, Peirce-Phelps Inc.
• Jeff Pope, F.W. Webb Company
• Donald Slominski Jr, McNaughton McKay Electric Company
• Russ Visner, Etna Distributors & Lead Director, AD Board
• Bill Weisberg, AD
• John Wiborg, Stellar Industrial Supply Inc.
