Sonepar USA plans to approach the integration of Hagemeyer’s U.S. assets much like it does any other company it acquires, CEO Tony Burr tells MDM in a recent interview. It has a different customer base, predominantly, and a different market approach,” he says. Sonepar has not yet acquired Dutch electrical distributor Hagemeyer’s assets in North America, Asia-Pacific and select European markets from Paris-based Rexel, but the plan is to do so before the end of the year.
 
Sonepar’s strategy is to leave acquired companies’ trading names and management in place; with this operating structure, the distributor recognizes that distribution is largely a local business and that it is important to cater to local needs.
 
In Hagemeyer’s case, “We’ll find there will be some …