GERSHWIND
Erik

• 1. Career
• 2. Education and life

Erik Gershwind is President and Chief Executive Officer of MSC Industrial Supply Co., a premier distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations products and services to industrial customers throughout North America. He also is a member of MSC's Board of Directors.

Career

During his 25-year tenure with MSC, Erik has held a series of progressively responsible leadership roles across the business, including Sales, Product Management, Marketing, eCommerce and Strategy. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2009, President in 2011 and Chief Executive Officer in 2013.

As CEO, Erik has led the company's transformation from a spot-buy supplier of industrial products to a trusted advisor helping customers solve their mission-critical challenges on the plant floor. Under Erik's leadership, MSC's strategic investments in people, technology, acquisitions and regional expansion across North America have resulted in revenue growth of approximately 70 percent to $3.4 billon, placing the company at No. 721 on the 2020 Fortune 1000 list. MSC has been named a top place to work by a number of prominent publications, including Forbes and Computerworld magazines.

Education and life

Erik graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

He serves as Chair of the Board of Overseers for the University of Pennsylvania Libraries and sits on the Board of Directors for other not-for-profit organizations, including the Sid Jacobson JCC of East Hills, New York and the Riverside Hawks Youth Basketball, a nationally recognized academic and athletic program. Erik also serves on the Board of Directors of several Gershwind Family Foundations. Additionally, Erik serves as co-chair of Major Gifts for The UJA Federation of New York, Long Island chapter. Erik resides in Old Westbury, New York with his wife, Jackie, and three children.