The Leadership Focus Panel
Chip Hornsby
Group Chief Executive
Wolseley plc
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Wolseley
• Customer Focus
– Associate Driven
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Wolseley Overview
• Largest distributor of construction materials in North America and Europe
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Wolseley Overview
• Headquartered in the U K
• 2007 revenues $32 billion
• 50% North America and 50% Europe
• 5,300 + locations
• Traded on the London Stock Exchange
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Wolseley
• Brands in the U S– Ferguson
– Stock Building Materials
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Wolseley Culture• Decentralized, but moving toward centralization
by country• Shared Strategy
– Earn, Turn, and Grow
• Alignment– Country– Cluster– Continent– Group– Culture
• Varies greatly by country
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Wolseley• Leading Change• Wolseley’s evolution
– Through the late 90’s, a conglomerate– Holding company
• Strategic leverage– Best practice– Leverage size and scale
• Supply chain efficiency• Leadership Development• Business Information/Technology
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Leadership Development• A high degree of emphasis
– Varies by continent
• In the U S, hire over 1,000 incoming college graduates for training program per year
• In Europe just beginning process but roughly 50 college graduates per year
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Biggest Challenge• Short Term
– Economy– In U S
• Housing starts 2.2 million in 2005• 750,000 projected for 2008
• Long Term– Continue to adjust strategy to changing customer
needs
• Capitalizing on our opportunities while maneuvering various cultures
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Wolseley
• Customer Focus
– Associate Driven