Sonepar Announces the Retirement of William (Bill) C. Smith, Electrozad Director of Transitional Business

September 2, 2024

William (Bill) C. Smith, Director, Transitional Business of Electrozad Supply Company Limited announced his retirement as of August 30^th, 2024 after 49 years of leadership.

Bill began his electrical career working part-time at Electrozad Supply while completing a Sales & Marketing Program at St. Clair College.  After his first full-time position in the industry with State Electric in 1974, he started working full-time with Electrozad in 1975 and has worked his way through each department and function of the organization over his career.

“For a short, skinny kid with long hair, coming out of St. Clair College, that worked at Electrozad part-time—that didn’t want anything to do with this industry—I soon became the S.O.B. (the “Son of the Boss”) and learned from the ground up,” Bill said.

In April 1992, Bill was appointed President of the Electrozad Group of Companies with locations in Windsor, Chatham, Sarnia, and London.  In 2022, he was appointed to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. After Electrozad was acquired by Sonepar in 2024, he was assigned the position of Director of Transitional Business.

Throughout his career, Bill’s leadership and professionalism have been exemplary. He has served in various roles, including Chairman of Copel, CEDA Board Member, EFC Director and Chairman of multiple committees since 1990, Chairman of the EFC Supply & Distribution Council (2000-2001), and Chair of the Canadian Division Board of Directors for A-D for eight years. He also contributed to the supplyFORCE Steering Committee. He has been an avid supporter of numerous charitable organizations, especially the United Way, the Electrozad Foundation and the Ozad Institute.

“When I think of Bill, I think of him as a welcoming face to the industry, as a person who is passionate about his industry, and as a person who has tremendous wisdom on industry matters,” said Carol McGlogan, EFC’s president & CEO.

In 2017, EFC awarded Bill the “2017 Industry Recognition Award”.  He has influenced the electrical industry with strong leadership, investment in both people and organizations, strong ethics, energy and good nature.

Over Bill’s 49 years at Electrozad, he earned the respect and friendship of customers and suppliers, but the employees were family. Bill’s leadership, guidance, laughter, jokes, kind-heartedness, wisdom and willingness to sit and listen when a talk was needed will be deeply missed.  Sonepar wishes him a long, happy and fulfilling retirement.

For more information, visit the Sonepar website HERE.