Ideal Supply’s John MacDonald to Retire

July 30, 2018

John MacDonald (better known as Satch) has decided that he will retire from Ideal Supply at the end of October 2018.

After graduating from the business program at Georgian College in 1983, Satch joined the company full time at Ideal Supply’s Owen Sound Branch. He rose through the ranks, moving to the Collingwood counter to help open a branch there, then on to Orillia as an automotive division account manager. In 1987 he was appointed Assistant Sales Manager for the Automotive Division working out of Barrie, and moved to Listowel in 1996 as the company’s Corporate Marketing Manager. In that role Satch undertook the huge job of integrating the NAPA programs into Ideal Supply. He soon transitioned to become General Manager — Sales & Marketing, before being named Vice-President — Sales & Marketing, a position he has capably held since 2001.

For over 17 years Satch has led Ideal Supply’s sales and marketing strategy, organized countless trade shows and Ideal customer trips, been the main contact between NAPA and Ideal, participated on the company’s Management Committee, co-led the regular sales and operations KPI meetings, and generally been at the centre of each important sales discussion and debate the Company has had.

Satch approached every major business decision as an owner and executive who desired what was best for all of Ideal’s stakeholders — owners, staff, customers and suppliers.

“It is safe to say that no one knows more of our customers – by a long shot – than Satch,” says company president Tim MacDonald. “He has worked hard to cultivate relationships with customers across our market area and much of the loyalty that we enjoy is because of the care he has sincerely expressed for their health, and the health of their families and their businesses. Satch has cultivated similar relationships among our supplier partners, and certainly among Ideal associates.

“Outside of Ideal Supply, Satch did us all proud in 2012 when he served as Chair of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada. In that role he travelled from coast to coast to advocate on behalf of the automotive industry and strengthen relationships between manufacturers and distributors. He raised Ideal Supply’s and NAPA’s profile nationally and built relationships for our Company we did not have previously.

“Locally Satch has served on the Boards of Habitat for Humanity, the Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Listowel Golf and Country Club.

“He has had a distinguished career with Ideal Supply and suffice to say Satch will be impossible to replace.”

Before appointing a new VP – Sales & Marketing, Ideal Supply intends to evaluate the needs of the company for the future and the internal talent, ensuring that there are no holes in the legacy that Satch leaves. “We have never had a stronger team of divisional sales managers, so I am confident that for the short term all facets of managing our sales strategy and tactics will be well looked after,” says Tim.