Vrabely Takes Reins at Huttig

A new leader will take the helm of St. Louis, MO-based Huttig Building Products on Jan. 1. The board of directors has named Jon P. Vrabely president and CEO, succeeding Michael A. Lupo, who will continue as a director and member of the board’s executive committee. Vrabely has worked for Huttig since 1999 and filled the role of vice president and chief operating officer since November 2005.

“With his operational and managerial experience, [Vrabely] is the ideal executive to lead Huttig, expand market share, and create value,” said Lupo in a company press release. “He knows the company and its people, products, services and customers very well, and has demonstrated repeatedly his ability to enhance customer relationships and build a strong team working at all levels of our organization. This will be a very smooth transition.”

In his most recent role as VP and COO, Vrabely, 41, was responsible for all branch sales and operations, as well as corporate national accounts, marketing and product management. Prior to joining Huttig, he held several management positions with WESCO International Inc., a distributor of electrical supplies and apparatus.

Lupo, 74, who has held several executive positions in the building products industry since 1983, has served as a Huttig director since December 2002, and was named Huttig’s president and CEO in April 2003 to affect a turnaround.

“I look forward to my new responsibilities, and I am appreciative of the support and vote of confidence in me by the board of directors,” said Vrabely. “[Lupo] has played a major role at Huttig, turning around the company in 2003, and leading a restructuring that has enabled Huttig to become a national distributor solely focused on the two-step distribution of millwork and building products. I am personally pleased that he will continue on our board.”

Huttig, currently in its 121st year of business, is one of the largest domestic distributors of millwork, building materials and wood products used principally in new residential construction and in home improvement, remodeling and repair work. The company distributes its products through 43 distribution centers serving 48 states. Its wholesale distribution centers sell principally to building materials dealers, national buying groups, home centers and industrial users, including makers of manufactured homes.