Arrow Electronics, Inc. has announced the appointment of Deidra C. Merriwether as its new president and chief operating officer, starting September 8, 2026. Merriwether will report directly to the interim CEO, William F. Austen. In her new role, she will oversee Arrow's global business segments and logistics operations, a move that enhances the company's executive team and bolsters its 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," stated Steven H. Gunby, chairman of the Arrow board of directors.
Background in Business Management
Merriwether's career is marked by significant experience in business management and achieving optimized performance results. She most recently held the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer at W.W. Grainger, Inc. starting in 2021. Prior to this role, she was senior vice president and president of North American sales and services. Her tenure at Grainger began in 2013, where she took on roles with increasing responsibility.
Merriwether's career is marked by significant experience in business management
Earlier in her career, from 2002 to 2013, Merriwether was involved in general management and finance at Sears Holdings Corporation, eventually becoming chief operating officer of its retail formats. Her foundational career began at Eli Lilly and Company as an engineer and production leader, followed by accounting and mergers and acquisitions experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited.
Commitment to Corporate Responsibility
"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," commented Austen.
Merriwether holds an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is also an independent director on the board of Weyerhaeuser Company, serving on both the audit committee and governance & corporate responsibility committee.
