In part 1 of our interview series with Rexel USA’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer Jordan Lomheim, we discussed the company’s mergers and acquisition strategies in the past and for the future.
In part 2, tED magazine talks with Lomheim about other strategic initiatives.
tED magazine: Rexel USA welcomed Roger Little as the new CEO a while back. How has his vision and arrival accelerated the strategic direction of Rexel USA?
Jordan Lomheim: Roger brought deep industry experience, sound business judgment, and a clear sense of priorities. I will always remember him reviewing initiatives and advising the team to narrow our focus to just three to five strategic priorities.
It is natural for an organization to want to impress a new CEO with a lot of projects. Roger had the insight to step back and say, ‘Let’s concentrate on the initiatives that truly move the needle.’ That brought a lot of focus to the organization.
He also demonstrates strong decision-making and knows when to make a bold bet versus when to proceed with caution. For example, when we evaluated Talley, Roger recognized from his prior experience in Canada that it was an exceptionally well-run business that would immediately give us a platform in telecom. The telecom market had faced challenging years, but Roger saw the opportunity. Talley has since outperformed expectations and now ranks among Rexel’s top-performing acquisitions.
Roger has also been a strong champion of our digital transformation. What we accomplished in digital and AI in 2025 is a point of pride. He clearly understood the value of investing in AI, a new CRM, quotation technology, and our data stack. The next wave of technology investment will position us in a highly differentiated way because Roger sees the power of technology to drive transformation.
tED magazine: Rexel globally has been very vocal about the Axelerate 2028 strategic plan. How is Rexel USA executing this strategy in the U.S., and which elements are having the biggest impact today?
Jordan Lomheim: The Axelerate 2028 plan is anchored on four pillars: people, operational excellence, value-added services, and growth and expansion. This year, we focused heavily on technology and AI with those investments clearly resonating with our teams. In our annual associate survey, digital innovation received overwhelmingly positive feedback. With over 80% participation in the survey, employees expressed that they not only see the impact of AI-based capabilities we’ve deployed but they are excited about the transformative potential these solutions will have on how we work and serve customers.
We also achieved the highest digital sales in Rexel USA’s history this year, which shows that our investments and ongoing refinements are delivering results. Our goal is to enable associates to focus on what matters most, our customers, rather than administrative tasks.
We also take pride in being strong acquirers. This includes cross-functional alignment during execution and a unique approach to integration. We execute exceptionally well, and the foundation of that success is a relentless focus on people and change management. We continuously assess our performance, and our scorecards confirm that we are creating value for the business while honoring commitments to new associates.
Our commercial teams have also delivered outstanding results in a dynamic year, pursuing growth opportunities in areas such as data centers, power generation, and telecom while maintaining focus on our core business. The vision of Axelerate 2028 is clear, and the emphasis remains on strong execution.
Ultimately, these initiatives benefit our customers by delivering faster, smarter, and more personalized solutions. From enhanced digital tools that streamline transactions to seamless integration of acquisitions that expand our capabilities, every element of Axelerate 2028 is designed to improve the customer experience and help them achieve their goals with greater efficiency and confidence.
tED magazine: Looking ahead, what excites you most about Rexel USA’s position in the market, and where do you see the industry heading in the next three to five years?
Jordan Lomheim: From an industry standpoint, this is an incredibly exciting time. Electricity underpins nearly every major trend we’re seeing, including data centers, utilities, new generation capacity, factory automation, 5G/6G, and fiber deployment.
Thanks to our unique mix, we have significant exposure to many of these high-growth segments, arguably more than many competitors. When you combine strong end-market dynamics with the transformation we’ve driven this year, along with our proven track record as an acquirer and integrator, the outlook is truly exciting.
I expect these trends to continue accelerating, particularly industry consolidation and strong growth. But the most profound shift will come from AI’s impact on the industry. With our growth posture, focus on AI, strong balance sheet, and ability to execute, I’m confident Rexel is positioned to lead the industry.
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