Southwire recently appointed four new directors to its board, effective October 2020. As the company continues toward its goal to remain generationally-sustainable for the next 100 years and beyond, the insight, expertise and advisement from its board of directors is essential to drive business growth and further shape Southwire’s culture of empowerment, trust, consistency and inclusion.
Joining the Southwire board of directors are Karen S. Carter of Dow, Inc., Halsey Cook of Milliken & Company, Richard Holder, formerly of NN, Inc. and Vernon Nagel of Acuity Brands, Inc. In total, the Southwire Board of Directors is comprised of 12 members, including family owners, industry leaders and business experts.
“We are pleased to welcome our newest members to Southwire’s board of directors,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire’s president and CEO. “As we move forward on our journey to become a diversified electrical company, we believe the collective experience and expertise of these influential leaders will prove invaluable for our organization, and we are confident that their insight and input will contribute to the future growth and success of our business.”
KAREN S. CARTER – Dow, Inc.
Karen S. Carter currently serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Inclusion Officer for Dow, where she is globally responsible for defining and executing the enterprise-wide people strategy aligned with business priorities and in support of the company’s global workforce. She also has worked toward institutionalizing inclusion and diversity as a business imperative for long-term growth. Carter has served in a progression of roles at Dow since beginning her career in 1993. Her emphasis on inclusion as a key driver for business success alongside her experience in developing global people strategies will help further support Southwire’s culture and goals related to inclusion and the employee experience.
“I am both honored and humbled to serve on the Board of Directors for Southwire,” said Carter. “I am committed to working with this leading company to drive growth, deliver long-term value and build on the legacy of hard work, social responsibility and innovation.”
HALSEY COOK – Milliken & Company
Halsey Cook is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Milliken & Company, a family-owned, diversified manufacturer of textiles and chemical products. In this role, he is responsible for leading Milliken’s emphasis on innovation, manufacturing excellence and customer care and helping translate strategy into effective execution and sustainable results. Prior to joining Milliken, Cook served as President and CEO of Sonepar USA and President of Carrier Residential. He has three decades of experience in the electrical, HVAC and manufacturing space. His experience in setting a company vision and expertise in executing upon a strategic plan will allow him to provide meaningful insight toward Southwire’s long-term goals.
“Having known Southwire as both a customer and a supplier, I know the commitment to people, innovation and sustainability are strong and operative in the daily management of the company. As a board member, I look forward to contributing my experience in strategy formulation and assisting the owners to ensuring profitable growth and the perpetuation of strong values for generations to come.”
RICHARD HOLDER – Formerly of NN, Inc.
Richard Holder most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of NN, Inc. from 2013 to 2019. As CEO, he successfully transformed NN from a cyclical automotive bearing components business into a diversified industrial company, which now combines in-depth materials science expertise with advanced engineering and production capabilities to design and manufacture high-precision metal and plastic components for a variety of markets. Prior to his time at NN, Inc., Holder served in a progression of leadership roles at Eaton Corporation for more than a decade and has previous experience in the aerospace industry. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Among other key contributions, Holder’s expertise in business transformation, including mergers and acquisitions, will allow him to provide beneficial advisement to Southwire as the company continues on its journey toward strategic growth.
“I am excited to join the Southwire family and round out my experience with a private, family-owned board,” said Holder. “Southwire has established itself as a highly reputable community-conscious organization, and I want to be part of the efforts to continue to shape the industry and the community. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the continued service, improvement and guidance for the company.”
VERNON NAGEL – Acuity Brands, Inc.
Vernon Nagel currently serves as Executive Chairman at Acuity Brands, where he most recently served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for 15 years before transitioning in January 2020. He plans to serve as Executive Chairman for Acuity until the end of 2020. During his tenure, he significantly improved the operating performance of the company, broadened the company’s product portfolio beyond fixtures to include sensors and controls, pushing Acuity into new digital realms that include smart fixtures and building management solutions. Nagel began his career in the electrical industry in 1980, moving into private equity in 1985 and then served in increasing leadership roles at companies including The Jepson Corporation, Stericycle, Inc. and Kuhlman Corporation before returning to private equity until 2001, when he joined Acuity. Nagel’s experience and expertise in utilizing digital technology to expand product platforms as well as acquisitions will allow him to provide insight and advisement toward Southwire’s approach to diversification and innovation.
“It is a privilege and an honor to be selected to serve on the Board of Directors for Southwire,” said Nagel. “The Richards family, the Board of Directors and the leadership team have created an extraordinary organization that provides superior value for its customers and great opportunities for its associates while enhancing the communities in which they reside.”
