GME Supply is reshuffling its leadership team as the fast-growing distributor prepares for its next phase of expansion. The Columbia, Missouri-based company said industry veteran Ryan Keogh will become president and CEO effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Caleb Messer, who will transition to executive chairman to focus on long-term strategy, industry partnerships, and external engagement.
The change marks a milestone for an organization that has scaled rapidly in the safety and productivity equipment market serving utility, construction, and industrial customers. Messer joined GME when it employed fewer than 10 people and has overseen its growth into a multi-hundred-employee operation with locations across North America.
“It’s been one of the great privileges of my life to help build this organization from five people in a single office to hundreds of associates,” Messer said in a statement. He said the company’s expanding footprint has allowed him to concentrate more on shaping future opportunities and industry positioning.
Founder Beau Aero will remain on the board and continue to support mergers and acquisitions—an area GME has signaled as a priority as distributors consolidate to strengthen capabilities and geographic reach. Aero said the combination of Messer’s strategic focus and Keogh’s operational leadership “will position the company for continued growth and impact.”
Keogh currently serves as president and chief operating officer and has been a key architect of GME’s operational model, workforce development, and supplier relationships. Messer called him a leader who “deeply understands our customers, our people, and the markets we serve.”
Keogh said he intends to build on the company’s focus on safety expertise and service. “It is an honor to take the baton and work with the world-class team we have assembled to continue growing and adding value for our customers and suppliers,” he said.
GME Supply has spent two decades building its position as a distributor of safety gear, tools, customized workwear, and training for trade professionals. Like many distributors, it has been investing in digital platforms, fulfillment enhancements, and technical support as customers expect faster delivery and deeper expertise.
The leadership transition, the company said, reinforces its commitment to both scale and specialization in a competitive and fast-evolving market.
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