Toledo, Ohio-based hardware and industrial supplies wholesale distributor Bostwick-Braun announced Dec. 19 that it has appointed a new leader for its Industrial Business unit.

The company said industry veteran Aaron Gula will lead that sector, bringing over 25 years of experience in executive management, P&L management and product development and launching experience with him.

Want to be a master of M&A? MDM’s 2023 M&A Virtual Summit, held Feb. 21-22, will deliver everything you need. Get details and register here.

Gula spent the past two years as Vice President and General Manager of The Hillman Group’s Hardware Solutions Division. Before that, he served as VP and General Manager of Elgin Fastener Group for more than two years, and had executive positions at The Numina Group, Cardinal Health and Rockwell Automation.

“Under Gula’s direction, the Industrial Business Unit aims to become the best regional industrial distributor by building a best-in-class platform and operating system to leverage the strengths of its companies while maintaining a local focus to exceed customer expectations and become their supplier partner of choice,” Bostwick-Braun said in a news release.

Bostwick-Braun added that Gula is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and LSS Champion and is an expert in the reduction of process cycle time and costs.

“Aaron has extensive leadership and industry experience to develop our strategic roadmap that will expand our capabilities and services in becoming a premier regional distributor,” said Mark Christie, Bostwick-Braun CEO. “He will champion the integration of our industrial businesses and the launch of our new digital platform.”

Bostwick-Braun’s Industrial Business portfolio includes subsidiaries of Columbus Fasteners, Complete Fastening Systems, EBN Industrial Supply, Hi-Tech Tools, JMC Sales & Engineering, Mill Supplies, Inc. and Wayne Fasteners. With 14 locations, the unit serves the manufacturing, construction and metalworking industries in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Illinois.