Westburne Inc. announced that Ron Pelachuk, executive vice president/Plumbing and Waterworks Product Group (North America), is taking early retirement effective Dec. 31. Pelachuk will continue as an adviser to the company in the areas of business orientation, performance and acquisitions for a minimum of one year from his retirement.
Subsequently, Dick Adix, vice president and general manager/plumbing, will report directly to Robert Chevrier, Westburne's chairman, president and CEO. Effective Jan. 1, 2000, Paul LaChance will become vice president and general manager/plumbing and waterworks (Canada).
Regarding the Canadian plumbing operations, Gilles P‚trin is the new vice president and general manager/Eastern Canada (plumbing); Ian Thompson is appointed vice president and general manager/Ontario (plumbing); and Brian Wilcox is the new vice president and general manager/Western Canada (plumbing).
In other news, the company executed two agreements involving its Electrical Group for the acquisition of assets of Electrical Suppliers (Norfolk, Va.) and Blazer Electric Supply Co. (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Electrical Suppliers has five branches in Virginia and North Carolina, and Blazer has four branches in Colorado.
With these acquisitions, Westburne's U.S. sales will represent 30% of the firm's sales.
