xpedx Announces Four Additions to Senior Lead Team
James Connelly has been named chief operating officer, xpedx, and is a member of the xpedx senior lead team. Connelly also is a vice president and company officer of International Paper. xpedx is a business of International Paper.
Connelly began his career with xpedx in October 1999 as vice president, sales and group vice president. In his nearly 12 years with xpedx, Connelly has held a number of leadership positions, including his most recent role as executive vice president, East Region, xpedx. His new role of COO consolidates the two former positions of executive vice president in the East and West Regions for xpedx. Connelly also has served as executive vice president, North Central Region, and senior vice president, Northeast, for xpedx. He was named vice president and company officer of International Paper in January 2006.
Prior to joining xpedx, Connelly served in various marketing, sales and management capacities at Unisource, including printing papers marketing management, vice president/division manager and vice president, distribution, resulting in more than 30 years of experience in the distribution industry.
"Jim has shown excellent leadership in xpedx's east region operations for the last two and a half years," said Mary Laschinger, president, xpedx. "In this new leadership position of greater responsibility, I'm sure that he will help us to leverage our strengths to maintain and grow our marketplace share in our print, packaging and facility solutions segments."
Dan Watkoske has been named executive vice president, sales, xpedx, and is a member of the xpedx senior lead team.
Watkoske joined International Paper in 1989 as a sales trainee for Nationwide Papers, which became a part of the xpedx business. With xpedx, he has held various roles in sales, commission sales and management, including vice president, national accounts. Most recently, for the past few years, Watkoske was group vice president, Metro New York, for xpedx.
"Dan has demonstrated great leadership in the Metro New York Group," said Laschinger. "His long history of accomplishments in sales will help us to continue growing xpedx throughout North America."
John Biscanti has been named executive vice president, operations, xpedx, and is a member of the xpedx senior lead team.
Biscanti began working with xpedx in 2000 as division manager for the xpedx Philadelphia facility. In 2001, he was named division manager for the xpedx Harrisburg facility. Most recently, Biscanti was group vice president, Mid-Atlantic, xpedx, in Harrisburg, Pa.
Biscanti began his distribution career in 1987 as a sales trainee with Garrett Buchanan in Philadelphia. The business later became part of Unisource, where he spent 13 years in various roles of increasing responsibility as a commissioned sales representative, sales manager, division manager and area/ district sales vice president.
"Through John's operations expertise we will optimize our distribution network platforms throughout North America," said Laschinger. "This streamlined distribution network will lead to improved service levels for our customers."
Thomas Lazzaro has joined xpedx as its chief procurement officer, and is a member of the xpedx senior lead team.
Lazzaro will have leadership responsibility for all aspects of the purchasing organization at xpedx, including strategic sourcing and fulfillment.
Lazzaro joined xpedx in January 2011 after previously serving as president of White Cap Construction Supply, a $1 billion division of HD Supply. In 2006, he joined HD Supply as president of Creative Touch Interiors, when it was still wholly-owned by The Home Depot.
Prior to joining The Home Depot, Lazzaro was general manager, global sourcing, for GE Consumer & Industrial, a $14 billion division of General Electric Co. He has more than 20 years of GE experience, including leadership positions in sales, eBusiness, six sigma and finance in the aerospace, healthcare, appliances and lighting & industrial systems businesses.
"Tom brings considerable experience in sourcing and fulfillment to our xpedx team," said Laschinger. "His leadership in purchasing will be important in providing the best products to our customers while we seek efficiencies within our own supply chain."
All four individuals are based at xpedx's business headquarters in Loveland, Ohio, near Cincinnati.
For more information, visit www.xpedx.com.