St. Louis-based waterworks and industrial supplies distributor Core & Main will acquire a Canadian distributor of water and wastewater products to address Canada’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs and provide future growth opportunities in a “multibillion-dollar” market.

HM Pipe Products and HM Pipe Products Kitchener (collectively HM Pipe Products) provide products to assist contractors and municipalities in Ontario with waterworks infrastructure projects. The team operates from two locations in London, Ontario, and Kitchener, Ontario.

“With our expansion into Canada, we will achieve a key milestone for Core & Main,” Core & Main CEO and Chair Steve LeClair said in a July 9 news release. “The team at HM Pipe Products has extensive market knowledge, an excellent reputation in the industry and strong customer connections.”

HM Pipe Products President Rick Henry added: “I am very proud of what our team has accomplished since Fraser Metcalf and I founded the company in 2010. Fraser and I are excited to enter a new chapter as part of the Core & Main family. We feel a strong alignment of purpose with their team, and this partnership paves the way for us to support the Canadian water and wastewater industry with expanded resources and unmatched excellence.”

Executive Leadership Changes

A day earlier, Core & Main shared that President Jack Schaller will transition to a role as Executive Vice President. As part of this transition, Schaller will continue supporting the integration of our newly acquired businesses, leading supplier relations and assisting with this organizational transition.

Meanwhile, President Brad Cowles will expand his role to lead the waterworks product line, previously led by Schaller.

Cowles has more than 18 years of leadership experience in the organization, most recently leading the fire protection product line. In addition to his core waterworks responsibilities, Cowles will have responsibility for several growth and margin initiatives.

“This transition is something I have been thinking about for some time,” Schaller said in a July 8 news release. “I’ve grown to love this industry over my 40-plus years, and it’s important to me to make sure Core & Main is in a position where I can make this move with a solid plan in place for our future success.”

Mike Huebert will join the company July 22 as President to oversee the distributor’s fire protection product line and certain other high growth product lines.

Huebert is currently Executive Vice President of Sales with Advanced Drainage Systems, where he oversees field sales and engineering, national accounts and retail sales teams. He will bring a wealth of experience, having managed business development, commercial operations, and driving sales and operational performance for ADS, one of Core & Main’s top suppliers.

“By transitioning some of Jack’s responsibilities to Brad, and by bringing on a capable new leader, Core & Main is well positioned to take the organization to the next level,” LeClair said. “As we continue on our path to driving shareholder value, the evolution of our executive leadership team strategically aligns our collective strengths and opens new opportunities for profitable growth.”