Kaman Distribution Group appoints new CEO

Kaman Distribution Group (KDG), a distributor of bearings and power transmission, automation and fluid power products, has appointed Benjamin Mondics as chief executive officer.

As part of the transition, Al Lariviere will be stepping down as KDG’s CEO.

Mondics is a seasoned executive with a thirty-five-year track record of success in the industrial distribution industry. He most recently served as president and CEO of ERIKS North America, a global distributor of gasket, hose, sealing, flow control, power transmission, industrial plastics and maintenance products.

Prior to ERIKS, Mondics served as president of Kaydon Corporation, a subsidiary of SKF Group. He also spent nearly 20 years with Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT), a distributor of bearings, power transmission products and hydraulic and pneumatic components. While at AIT, Mondics served in a variety of successive leadership positions, including most recently as president and chief operating officer.

“I am eager to accelerate KDG’s growth, both organically and via acquisition, and execute on a variety of operational improvement opportunities available to the company,” says Mondics.

Littlejohn & Co. acquired KDG earlier this year.

Tony Miranda, managing director of Littlejohn and a member of KDG’s board of directors, says, “We are thrilled to have an executive of Ben’s caliber join KDG. Ben’s decades of experience across a variety of industrial distribution and manufacturing platforms is a wonderful asset, and will enable him to have an immediate and measurable impact on the business.

“On behalf of the entire KDG organization, I would like to thank Al for his contributions to the company and the instrumental role he played in leading the separation of KDG from Kaman Corporation,” says Miranda.“During Al’s tenure, several strategic initiatives were initiated and implemented which has positioned KDG for future success. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.