MSC Industrial Supply Co. named Rob Kuhns as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, ending a 13-month search for a permanent finance leader.

Kuhns, 52, will begin the role Sept. 14. He brings more than 30 years of finance experience and most recently served as Vice President and CFO of insulation and building products distributor and manufacturer TopBuild Corp. MSC said he helped TopBuild grow its market capitalization from $6 billion to $14 billion through capital allocation, acquisitions and operational execution.

MDM Case Study: MSC Industrial Supply (Premium access) 

Before joining TopBuild, Kuhns held senior finance positions with Mohawk Industries, NCH Corp. and Ingersoll Rand. He will be based at MSC’s Davidson, NC, corporate office.

According to MSC’s Sept. 8 Form 8-K, Kuhns will receive an annual base salary of $650,000. For fiscal 2027, he will be eligible for a target annual incentive bonus equal to 85% of his salary, or $552,500, and an equity award valued at $1.5 million. He will additionally receive a $1.5 million sign-on equity grant of restricted stock units that will vest in equal installments over four years.

“He is an accomplished leader with deep knowledge of financial strategy and a proven track record of delivering profitable growth,” MSC President and CEO Martina McIsaac said. “Rob will be instrumental as we continue to advance our strategy, evolve to achieve our long-term financial targets and create value for all stakeholders.”

TopBuild reported 2025 sales of $5.41 billion, up 1.5% from a year earlier. Its gross margin decreased 150 basis points to 29.0%, while gross profit fell 3.4% to $1.57 billion. Operating profit declined 10.7% to $791.9 million, net profit fell 16.2% to $521.7 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased 3.5% to $1.04 billion.

Kuhns’ departure follows QXO’s completion of its $17 billion acquisition of TopBuild earlier this year.

At MSC, Kuhns succeeds Kristen Actis-Grande, who resigned effective Aug. 8, 2025, after five years as CFO. Actis-Grande subsequently became CFO of packaging solutions supplier Sealed Air. Greg Clark, MSC’s interim CFO since her departure, will return to his position as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller.

The appointment continues a broader MSC leadership transition. McIsaac succeeded Erik Gershwind as CEO on Jan. 1, while Hilti veteran Jahida Nadi joined as Senior Vice President of Sales in October 2025.

MSC Begins New Chapter Marked by Sales Execution & Efficiency – January

MSC’s fiscal 2025 sales decreased 1.3% to $3.77 billion. Gross margin fell about 40 basis points to 40.8%, operating profit declined 22.8% to $301.6 million and attributable net profit dropped 22.9% to $199.3 million.

Its latest quarterly results showed a considerable rebound. For its fiscal 2026 third quarter ended May 30, sales increased 7.8% to $1.05 billion, operating profit jumped 29.0% to $106.7 million and attributable net profit increased 41.4% to $80.4 million.

MSC’s 4Q26 ended Aug. 30. It will likely report its 4Q and full year results in the second half of October.

On MDM’s 2026 Top Distributors Lists, MSC was No. 7 for MRO Industrial, No. 9 for Industrial Supplies and No. 9 for Safety.

MDM Analysis

Kuhns’ appointment completes MSC’s rebuild of its top executive ranks and adds a CFO experienced in acquisitions, capital allocation and operational improvement as the distributor works to sustain its return to profitable growth. His move also reflects the natural leadership reshuffling that often follows a major acquisition. Executive departures from TopBuild after its absorption into QXO certainly aren’t surprising, while MSC gains a finance chief who helped oversee significant value creation at another large distributor.