Chicago, May 14, 2001 – Donald E. Bielinski, group president for Grainger, is leaving Grainger after a 30-year career with the company to pursue his career interests in business-to-business Internet and technology-related areas.
Grainger Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Keyser said, “Don has had a distinguished career with Grainger. He has an unusually broad set of leadership skills, which he was able to use in the finance, operations, marketing, and technology arenas. Most recently, he has overseen Grainger’s Internet-related initiatives and guided the company’s digital strategy. It was partly because of Don’s significant contributions in this area that Grainger earned recognition as an Internet savvy company.“
Don joined Grainger in 1972 as a staff accountant. He rose within the financial ranks, becoming vice president and chief financial officer. Don went on to become senior vice president, organization and planning and senior vice president, marketing and sales, before becoming group president in 1997. Most recently, he headed up Material Logic, the company’s digital businesses.
“My career at Grainger has given me enormous opportunities to grow professionally. I’ve accomplished a great deal, learned a great deal, and tried to pass on to the many talented men and women I’ve worked with at Grainger what I know about this great company and its bright future,” said Bielinski.
Don graduated in 1971 from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and also received a master’s of management degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1996. He also completed the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 2000 sales of $5 billion, is the leading North American provider of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies and related information to businesses and institutions. For more information, visit Grainger online at www.grainger.com.