North American buying group the Independent Welding and Distributors Cooperative (IWDC) has appointed Chris Stout as Vice-President and General Manager.
Stout will oversee the IWDC’s sales and vendor management team, with a focus on expanding key programmes and strengthening support for vendor partners and the Weldmark brand.
His responsibilities will also include managing operations at IWDC distribution centres to help drive overall growth and efficiency.
Stout will report directly to Frank Kasnick, President and CEO of the cooperative.
He previously held leadership roles in branch operations, purchasing, and vendor management at Michigan-based independent industrial gas distributor Purity Cylinder Gases. Prior to Purity Cylinder Gases, he worked for Praxair Distribution, now known as Linde Gas & Equipment.
