Arrow Electronics, Inc. has announced that Deidra C. (Dee) Merriwether will assume the role of president and chief operating officer on 8th September 2026.
Merriwether will report to William F. Austen, interim chief executive officer, and oversee Arrow's global business segments and logistics operations. This appointment aims to bolster the company's executive team and aid in succession planning.
Strengthening leadership at Arrow
Merriwether's extensive distribution expertise and successful leadership in commercial, operational, and financial sectors make her well-suited to support Arrow's pursuit of profitable growth and stakeholder value creation. Steven H. Gunby, chairman of the Arrow board of directors, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted that Dee is joining Arrow as president and chief operating officer. Her extensive experience in distribution combined with her successful track record leading commercial, operational, and financial teams make her an ideal leader to join Arrow at this time."
Proven track record in business management
Merriwether previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer at W.W. Grainger
With a solid background in business management and performance optimisation, Merriwether previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer at W.W. Grainger, Inc. since 2021. Her career journey at Grainger began in 2013, where she took on progressively responsible roles, including leading North American sales and services.
Prior to Grainger, she honed her skills at Sears Holdings Corporation from 2002 to 2013, ultimately departing as chief operating officer, retail formats. Merriwether's early career includes positions at Eli Lilly and Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited.
Commitment to corporate responsibility
William F. Austen welcomed Merriwether to Arrow, noting her strong leadership qualities. "She brings exceptional depth with her more than two decades of substantive distribution, sales channel, operations, and finance experience, with a demonstrated talent for innovation, versatility, leadership, and performance results," Austen commented.
Merriwether holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is also an independent director on the board of Weyerhaeuser Company.
Arrow Electronics, Inc. announces the appointment of Deidra C. (Dee) Merriwether to the new position of president and chief operating officer, effective Sept. 8, 2026, reporting to William F. Austen, interim chief executive officer. Merriwether will be responsible for leading Arrow’s global business segments and logistics organisations. With this announcement, the company augments its executive team and strengthens succession planning.
“We are delighted that Dee is joining Arrow as president and chief operating officer. Her extensive experience in distribution combined with her successful track record leading commercial, operational, and financial teams make her an ideal leader to join Arrow at this time to support our terrific teams driving profitable growth and value creation for stakeholders,” said Steven H. Gunby, chairman of the Arrow board of directors.
Optimised performance results
Merriwether brings a robust background in broad-based business management and optimised performance results. Before joining Arrow and since 2021, she served as the senior vice president and chief financial officer of W.W. Grainger, Inc. and prior to that as the senior vice president and president, North American sales and services, and other roles of increasing responsibility since 2013.
From 2002 to 2013, she held roles of increasing responsibility in general management and finance at Sears Holdings Corporation, departing as chief operating officer, retail formats, in 2013. She started her career as an engineer and production leader at Eli Lilly and Company and gained valuable accounting and mergers and acquisitions experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited.
Corporate responsibility committee
“I am thrilled to welcome Dee to Arrow and our executive team. She brings exceptional depth with her more than two decades of substantive distribution, sales channel, operations, and finance experience, with a demonstrated talent for innovation, versatility, leadership, and performance results. Further, she has the qualities we seek in our leaders -- she is humble, approachable, transparent, and driven by purpose and values to deliver results for our suppliers, customers, employees, and investors,” said Austen.
Merriwether holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in chemical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She currently serves on the board of Weyerhaeuser Company as an independent director and member of the audit committee and governance & corporate responsibility committee.
