Industry expert to lead innovation and educationfor the $7.4 trillion wholesale distribution industry
Washington, DC – The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), which represents the $7.4 trillion wholesale-distribution industry, has hired industry expert Bart Tessel as Chief Innovation Officer. Tessel, who started on August 1, 2022, is a 25-year wholesale distribution expert, global executive leader and innovator. Tessel will oversee NAW’s Innovation and Member Programming and run the Institute for Distribution Excellence.
“Bart’s talent and experience cannot be overstated,” said NAW CEO Eric Hoplin. “We are thrilled to welcome Bart to our growing team and look forward to learning from his experience, insight, and foresight. We will look to Bart to help lead our members and our industry to the next frontier in wholesale distribution,” concluded Hoplin.
“I am thrilled to build on the rich NAW legacy by extending its impressive membership programs, and leading the Institute for Distribution Excellence,” said Bart Tessel, NAW Chief Innovation Officer. “I look forward to working with all of our dynamic members and the remarkable NAW team to build upon NAW’s tradition of customer service, and help members grow and innovate their operations,” Tessel said.
Most recently, Tessel served as Head of Corporate Development and M&A at ABB Optical Group, the nation’s largest distributor in the vision care industry with over $1.5 billion in revenue. Over the years he held various positions at ABB, including Director of Supply Chain, Profitability Management, and Vice President of Business Development. Bart also worked at DHL in Europe, followed by global development roles developing innovative supply chain solutions for Fortune 100 customers around the globe; establishing DHL Supply Chain in the US; and rolling out the Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement practice at DHL Global Forwarding.
“As the world of commerce rapidly transforms, I look forward to helping NAW facilitate the exchange of ideas amongst fast-moving, forward-thinking creative talent from all corners of the distribution industry and beyond.” concluded Tessel.
NAW is the “national voice of wholesale distribution,” an association comprised of employers of all sizes and national, regional, state, and local line-of-trade associations spanning the $7.4 trillion wholesale distribution industry, that employs more than 5 million workers in the United States. There are approximately 35,000 enterprises with almost 150,000 places of business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that are affiliated with NAW.
Learn more at naw.org.
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