Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> April 8, 2002

Bill Purser – Applied Industrial Technologies Inc (ait)

BILL L. PURSER, President and Chief Operating Officer of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc., joined the company in February 1995 as Vice President ' National Accounts. In July 1996, he took the additional responsibility for the marketing efforts of the company. He was named Chief Marketing Officer in February 1999. In October 2000, Mr. Purser was elected President and Chief Operating Officer. In that position, he oversees the sales, marketing and e-commerce efforts of the company. With more than 23 years' experience in the industrial distribution industry, Mr. Purser's excellence in the industry precedes him. Prior to Applied, he served as Vice President of Business Development for Invetech and President of American Bearing. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Georgia Southern University and has completed courses in Finance and Distribution Management. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and was President of the Power Transmission Distribution Association in 1998. Profile
TWST: Could we start with a brief overview of the history and

evolution of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.?

Mr. Purser: The company began in 1923. We are an industrial

distributor, and