Leviton Succession Plan Preserves Family Lineage
Donald Hendler Named CEO; Stephen Sokolow Named Chairman of the Board of Directors
Little Neck, NY, September, 26, 2007 - In his appointment of Donald J. Hendler as CEO, and Stephen B. Sokolow as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leviton Manufacturing Company, Harold Leviton, through a carefully-architected succession plan, ensured that the Company his father started in 1906 would continue to serve the marketplace as a private, family-owned and operated company. Leviton, CEO and Chairman of the Board, passed away earlier this month, leaving two of his sons-in-law to lead the Company as it progresses through its second hundred years in operation. Hendler, who in 2005 was named President, will assume the additional title and role of CEO. Sokolow, who was named Vice Chairman of the Board that same year, will succeed as Chairman of the Board.
"The Leviton family business will continue to grow as we embark on our second century in business," said Donald Hendler, President and CEO of Leviton. "I am proud to accept leadership responsibility on behalf of Harold and the Leviton family. We have a number of exciting initiatives planned for the coming months and both Steve and I look forward to the opportunity of implementing these and moving the Leviton Company forward in the same friendly, family atmosphere that has become so much a part of our heritage, philosophy and culture."
In a career spanning more than 37 years, Hendler has held key positions at Leviton. Before his appointment as President, he served as Executive Vice President, where he directed strategic planning, human resources and distribution initiatives, as well as sales, marketing and product development for Leviton North America and subsidiary, American Insulated Wire. He also has held various positions of prominence within the industry, having served on the Education Foundation for the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) and as a member of the Government Relations Committee of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). In addition, he has served on the Advisory Committees of both IMARK and Affiliated Distributors.
Sokolow began his career at Leviton in 1961, starting out as a summer intern and working his way up to facilities manager and numerous other positions before his appointment to Executive Vice President, where he directed the Company's manufacturing, engineering, distribution and information technology operations. Sokolow has served the industry as Technical Chairman of the Electronic Data Exchange Joint Committee of NAED, NEMA and NEMRA* and was Chairman of NEMA's Wiring Device Section. He is a recipient of Electrical Wholesaling magazine's prestigious GEM (Ganzenmuller Electrical Marketing) Award, which honors those who lead a company to greatness in electrical marketing.
With its roots established at the dawn of the electrical age, Leviton is one of the world's most diversified electrical manufacturing companies, manufacturing products for nearly every connectivity need, from electrical receptacles to optical fiber components. Last year the Company celebrated its centennial anniversary. For more information, contact Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., 59-25 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY 11362-2591, www.leviton.com
