United Stationers Inc. (NASDAQ: USTR), Deerfield, IL, will officially bring together several of its primary operating companies under the name Essendant on June 1; on the same day the company will begin trading under the stock ticker symbol ESND.
United Stationers Supply Co., Azerty, LagasseSweet and ORS Nasco will come together under the Essendant brand starting in June, while MEDCO will follow shortly thereafter. United Stationers announced the name change in February at Emerge Core Live, its show for suppliers and customers, in Nashville, TN.
"By uniting our brands as Essendant, we provide the exceptional products and services that enable our partners to succeed, while also increasing the convenience and efficiency for our customers," says Bob Aiken, interim president and chief executive officer.
This isn't the company's only transition. Cody Phipps, who oversaw the repositioning and rebranding effort, in early May resigned from his position as president and CEO, as well as a director of the company. A search committee has been established to oversee the process of identifying a permanent CEO.