Forest products and building materials buying group Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation (LMC) appointed Paul Ryan as the group’s new president and CEO. Ryan will succeed John Somerville, who previously announced he will retire in June after 11 years with LMC.
“Paul’s experience at LMC, as well as 17 years working within the co-op world makes him a great fit to lead LMC,” Somerville said in a news release. “In his tenure at LMC, he has driven remarkable efficiencies within our organization and enhanced our use of technology, setting us on a solid growth path into the future.”
Ryan joined LMC in 2016 and has served as the group’s senior vice president of finance and technology. Prior to joining LMC, the newly appointed president and CEO served as the CFO for building materials and industrial products buying group Affiliated Distributors. Ryan also served as controller and vice president of finance for Affiliated Distributors prior to his promotion to CFO. The LMC executive also was the financial controller for VWR International and a CPA with Ernst & Young.
“In the last five years, Paul has spearheaded many notable improvements within LMC and dramatically enhanced the use of technology to better serve all its members,” chairman Charlie Kreyer said. “He has proven his ability to advance our co-op and understands the unique challenges that lay ahead.”
Under Ryan’s leadership, LMC will remain committed to creating advantages that provide a competitive edge for its independent LBM dealers, according to the group.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead LMC into the future with a team that understands the importance of building a world-class organization within a competitive industry,” Ryan said. “Building on our current initiatives, I look forward to driving the future growth of LMC and our LMC dealers.”
Wayne, Pa.-based LMC is owned by independent lumber and building materials dealers and has more than 1,400 dealer locations in the United States and the Bahamas.
