Bernie McConnell Named Vice President, WIDIA Products Group and Services
(LATROBE, PA) - To focus on providing improved metalcutting products and services to customers worldwide, Kennametal Inc. is announcing the migration of all its current brands of metalcutting tools and tooling systems into two portfolios: WIDIA Products Group and Kennametal Products Group, effective immediately. Concurrent with this announcement, Bernie McConnell, Vice President, Global MSSG Marketing for Kennametal Inc., has been named Vice President, WIDIA Products Group and Services, also effective immediately.
"These are exciting times as we continue building the strength of the WIDIA Products Group and its many solutions for manufacturers worldwide," McConnell says. "This includes North American companies who may be new to these products and those worldwide for which WIDIA is synonymous with leading technology."
The WIDIA Products Group will include WIDIA, Hanita, Rübig, Manchester, Clapp-DiCo, Greenfield Tap & Die, and Circle brands; while KM and Erickson tooling systems will be available in both Kennametal and WIDIA Products Groups.
McConnell has over 15 years of professional experience in various positions within marketing product management, market segment management, and manufacturing at Kennametal. New product sales have climbed from 18 percent five years ago to 45 percent today. The total number of SKU's has been reduced from 383,000 three years ago to 165,000 today.
He obtained a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from Penn State University and an MBA in business management from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He credits much of his professional success to a combination of academic studies combined with real-world work experience and a "think strategically, execute quickly" mindset. McConnell believes it is always valuable to step back and look at your business from a customers' perspective, "outside-in" thinking. "When you lead with filling customer needs, the rest of the business will fall into place," he says.
WIDIA products and services have defined innovation in the metalcutting industry for more than 80 years - from the world's first patent for carbide indexable inserts to the development of the world's first coated grades. The WIDIA brand offers a complete portfolio of precision-engineered products and custom solution services. With thousands of milling, turning, holemaking, and tooling systems products available through a worldwide network of authorized distributor partners, you'll find everything you need from one single source.
For more information, visit www.widia.com.
WIDIA Products Group; 800.446.7738
