Metalworking and MRO supplies distributor BlackHawk Industrial has appointed Steve Gettleman as Vice President of Category Management.

Gettleman brings three decades of industrial supply distribution experience to the role, including over 20 years in senior leadership roles.

Gettleman will oversee BlackHawk’s category strategy across metalworking, fastener, MRO and industrial product lines through the sales and digital channels. His focus will include enhancing product assortment, optimizing category and supplier performance and leveraging data insights to drive profitability and market differentiation.

Before joining Tulsa, OK-based BlackHawk, Gettleman served as VP of Global Private Brands at ADI Global, where he built the company’s first global sourcing team in Shanghai and significantly improved private brand profitability by reducing sourcing costs and strengthening supplier partnerships. BlackHawk noted that under Gettleman’s leadership, ADI’s private brand revenue grew 25% year-over-year, marking the company’s strongest performance in five years.

“Steve brings a rare combination of category expertise, global sourcing experience, and demonstrated success building world-class supplier strategies,” BlackHawk Industrial President and CEO John Mark said in a Dec. 3 news release “His leadership will play an essential role in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and strengthening our category performance, deepening supplier collaboration and delivering the technical excellence and value our customers expect from BlackHawk.”

Prior to ADI, Gettleman spent nearly two decades at MSC Industrial Supply Co., where he led its Metalworking Strategy Team, Enterprise Pricing Team, Capital Machinery Division and West Coast Wholesaling Operation. Gettleman also spearheaded MSC’s first Asia sourcing operation, driving more than $100 million in sourced volume and achieving 30 to 60% cost reductions through strategic supplier partnerships, according to BlackHawk.

“I am honored to join BlackHawk Industrial at such a pivotal moment in the company’s history,” Gettleman said. “BlackHawk’s commitment to innovation, customer success and data-driven decision-making aligns perfectly with my passion for building high-performing category strategies. I look forward to partnering with our suppliers, teammates and customers to drive long-term value and category excellence.”