In MDM’s research of distributors that are leaning into data-driven strategy; scaling through acquisitive and organic growth; and investing in their people alongside technology; one of the best examples we’ve seen in recent years is of France-based Rexel — specifically its North American unit.

In the U.S. and Canada, Rexel is a leading electrical products and services supplier, with its North American operations ranking No. 5 on MDM’s 2025 Top Electrical Distributors List with around $9 billion in annual revenue.

That North American unit — representing 45% of group sales in 2024 — is led by Roger Little, a career electrical veteran who was CEO of Rexel’s Canada operations for 10 years before being promoted to USA CEO and leader of the U.S.-Canada cluster at the end of 2023.

He’s my guest in our latest MDM Podcast episode, in which we covered a lot of ground on what Rexel’s been up to lately and what’s on its horizon.

Our conversation covered the company’s recent acquisitions — including one that gave a strong foothold in a relatively new market; why its North American growth has outpaced the group’s Europe performance; Rexel’s investments in digital and talent development; and of course, Little’s thoughts on tariffs and their impacts on the markets the company serves.

Listen to the full episode via the audio player above, and you can find all of our past episodes at mdm.com/podcasts.

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