Why This Matters to Distributors: The leadership transition highlights how distributor buying groups are expanding beyond purchasing programs into sales planning, marketing support and operational services as independent distributors look for additional scale and supplier leverage in a competitive market.
NetPlus Alliance has promoted three executives following the planned retirement of senior vice president of business development Paul Byrnes, who will step down in June after 12 years with the industrial and contractor supplies buying group.
The Lockport, New York-based organization promoted Zach Brado to senior vice president of growth and development, Jennifer McMillan to vice president of human resources, operations and marketing, and Kate Borth to vice president of finance. The promotions took effect May 1.
Brado succeeds Byrnes after previously serving as vice president of development and marketing. He joined NetPlus in 2012 as a marketing intern and later led supplier relations, marketing, programs, and events for the organization.
McMillan previously served as senior director of human resources and operations, while Borth was senior director of finance before her promotion.
NetPlus said Byrnes helped recruit 260 distributor members during his tenure and played a key role in developing the company’s Growth Plus sales and marketing planning program, launched in 2016. The buying group said participating distributors have generated 50% greater purchase growth through the program compared with nonparticipants, though the company did not disclose supporting figures or the measurement period.
Before joining NetPlus in 2014, Byrnes spent 11 years with ORS Nasco as eastern region sales director.
NetPlus President and CEO Jennifer Murphy said the promotions are part of the organization’s succession planning and long-term growth strategy.
NetPlus Alliance represents more than 400 industrial and contractor supplies distributors and negotiates pricing, rebates and purchasing terms with more than 220 manufacturers on behalf of members, according to the company.
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