Chicago, Illinois – January 16, 2024 – GCG, a global value-added distributor of communication and network, automation, OEM and datacenter products and solutions has added key commercial leadership team members with extensive industry experience and success building out supplier and strategic programs. These additions will allow GCG to continue its strategic, accelerated growth trajectory.

Ryan Dodd is joining GCG as Senior Vice President – Supplier Relations and Emerging Markets. Throughout his lengthy career Ryan has lead teams in some of the largest organizations in the industry, including Siemens, Thomas & Betts and ABB. Most recently he was the Global Strategic Channel Leader at Belden, Inc., developing strategic channel partnerships, championing partners’ interests and ensuring c-suite alignment. In that role he successfully optimized the distribution partner network, built out a high-level team, and achieved market-beating results.

As the SVP – Supplier Relations and Emerging Markets, Ryan will be managing GCG relationships with key suppliers and ensuring the meeting of GCG requirements and expectations, aligning supplier strategies across GCG segments and markets, and equipping GCG for a move into new, emerging markets. Ryan will be the key contact point for key suppliers across the range of datacom, OEM, in-building technology, automation and the other markets that GCG segments serve.
“GCG offers a one-stop shop to the OEMs, end-user customers and contractors, but also has nimble flexibility to adjust real time as the market continues to evolve.” Said Dodd. “This ability is unique in the Datacom and other industries GCG serves and will continue to be a key differentiator for the organization.”

To fill the new role of Vice President – Marketing Operations, GCG brought on Brian Walsh, another industry veteran who understands how to build and implement successful programs. During his career Brian has progressed through a variety of supply chain roles providing critical insights, optimizing inventory distribution, identifying and repairing profit leaks, and ensuring that customers have what they need when and where they need it. Brian spent the bulk of his career with Anixter and Wesco, and most recently he was the Director of Commercial Analytics, leading a team that gathered and processed valuable market data for strategic market growth.

In his new role with GCG Brian will establish and execute the strategic plans that are aligned with key leadership objectives, build a team to execute the analytics and intelligence strategy, and utilize data on emerging market trends to strategize on market share growth opportunities. Additionally, Brian will bring on new technologies and will help the team maximize the use of existing tools.

“GCG is a dynamic company that is at an exciting inflection point in its growth.” Said Brian. “We are poised for a major move in the market, and the opportunity to be a part of that evolution was just too good to pass up.”

Both Dodd and Walsh will report to Frank LaPlante, another industry veteran who joined GCG as Chief Marketing officer in 2023. LaPlante said “GCG offers customers a new choice, a global supplier partner with the breadth of offering and distribution footprint of a large distributor, and the DNA of a startup focused on responsiveness to customer needs. Brian and Ryan will be key players in the next phase of the organization, giving core vendors, contractors/integrators and end-users a new alternative.” GCG currently has 40+ facilities worldwide, 1,200 associates and over $200M in inventory.

GCG is a global value-added provider meeting the wire, cable, connectivity, and automation needs of customers across a wide spectrum of markets, including communications and networks, automation, OEM, datacenter, renewables and more. GCG also has cable assembly operations and is proud to be a leading wire and cable provider to the U.S. Navy.