World and Main sets executive lineup

Cranbury, New Jersey-based World and Main, LLC filled seven key positions in its organization to support the execution of its business strategy in 2016.

The new World and Main executives are:

• Ben Small, CPA, chief financial officer;

• Evan C. Burstein, VP sales food and drug;

• Thomas Grunewald, VP MRO, commercial and industrial, Wholesale Hardware Division;

• Cara R. Allard, category director housewares;

• Maria Arhontoulis, marketing communications manager;

• John Gearing, promoted to chief information officer; and

• Diane Dunne, promoted to national director e-commerce.

“World and Main continues to strengthen our team to support our new vision for the company,” stated Don Devine, president and CEO of World and Main.

The brand World and Main was created out of what was Hardware Holdings, which included the combination and reorganization of companies and brands including Howard Berger Company, Handy Hardware, Jones Stephens Corp., the Faucet Queens and WordLock.

“A strong team is a critical element in our ability to establish World and Main as a leading national distribution company serving the independent hardware retail, wholesale distribution and national retail channels. It will enable us to deliver on our brand promise of delivering simplicity and facilitating success,” said Devine.

More about the new World and Main leadership team:

Benjamin Small, CPA, chief financial officer, has responsibility for all finance and information technology functions of World and Main, LLC. Prior to joining World and Main, Small was chief financial officer and executive VP finance for Arrow Sheds Holdings, which was recently purchased by Shelter Logic. Small has also held executive finance positions with Advance Publications and American Standard Brands. Small holds an M.S. in accounting from Pace University and a B.A. in economics from the University of Massachusetts. Small is a certified public accountant and a Six Sigma green belt.

Evan C. Burstein, Vice President Sales Food and Drug. Burstein joins World and Main as the Vice President Sales Food and Drug with focused sales and channel responsibility in the supermarket, national drug account retailers, and large chain convenience stores. In his new role, Burstein will focus on expanding the company’s Helping Hand® brand nationally with wholesale grocers, food and drug retailers. Burstein brings successful and strong experience in various key sales executive positions, with his most recent position as Regional Vice President of Sales and Key Accounts with West Coast Novelty.  Burstein holds a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College.

Thomas Grunewald, VP MRO, commercial and industrial, has a proven record of customer growth and sales success with Sprint Nextel and most recently as the VP sales for Home Depot Supply, Renovation, and Fabrication Division.

Cara R. Allard, category director housewares will lead the strategic planning, management and performance of the home and houseware product categories across all channels. Allard was cirector of marketing for The Faucet Queens, which was acquired by World and Main in 2014. Most recently, Allard was senior product manager for Medline Industries. Allard is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. in communications studies.

Maria Arhontoulis, marketing communications manager, will be responsible for brand management, creative services and communications programs for all World and Main operations. Arhontoulis brings international brand marketing management experience from her previous position as global marketing manager for Shipco Transport. Arhontoulis is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickenson University with a B.A. in computer art and design. Arhontoulis is fluent in Greek and English.

John Gearing, chief information officer, was promoted to the newly created position of chief information officer with responsibility for all information technology and services for World and Main. Prior to this position, Gearing was VP IT for Handy Hardware and previously held various senior management positions with ADP. Gearing holds a B.A. in history from the University of Houston and served honorably in the United States Navy.

Diane Dunne, national director e-commerce, will direct and manage the company’s e-commerce vision, strategy and business operations to deliver top-line growth and support improving brand awareness for the company’s portfolio of owed brands. Dunne joined the company in 2014 when World and Main acquired The Faucet Queens where she had worked for the previous ten years. Dunne holds a B A. in management leadership from Judson University.      

World and Main is headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, and has offices in Houston; Moody, Alabama; and Wuxi, China, along with five North American distribution centers.