Motion names two new executive vice-presidents

Industrial technology company Motion has promoted two senior officers to executive vice-president roles, effective Apr. 1.

James Howe becomes executive vice-president – e-commerce, sales excellence, strategic pricing and corporate accounts, and Joe Limbaugh to assumes the role of executive vice-president – supply chain, operations support, marketing and enterprise excellence.

James Howe. Photo: Motion

James Howe most recently served as SVP e-commerce, sales excellence and strategic pricing throughout 2020, and as of Jan. 1, took on the additional responsibilities of the corporate accounts group.

He has been with Motion since 2002 and has held numerous field roles – including group executive for the West Group. In the last couple of years, Howe has led the strategy and development of all aspects of Motion’s digital strategy, including the new Motion.com website released last year.

He has also transformed Motion’s pricing strategy, delivering immediate and consistent impact across all aspects of the company’s business. As EVP, Howe will continue to lead in his respective areas, while also assisting in other strategic areas of the business and customer development.

Joe Limbaugh. Photo: Motion

Joe Limbaugh began his career with Motion in 1983 in Bourbonnais, Ill. During his time with Motion, Limbaugh has held numerous field and corporate positions, giving him a unique perspective on Motion and its customers.

He most recently served as SVP, responsible for Motion’s procurement and inventory, distribution centre operations and productivity, branch support, facilities and lease management and marketing strategy.

In 2018, Limbaugh led the renovation of Motion’s corporate campus, finishing the project on time and under budget in late 2019. In 2020, under his leadership and guidance, Motion installed the first “goods-to-person” automated retrieval systems in the Birmingham distribution centre, resulting in 540 per cent productivity improvement.

As EVP, Limbaugh will continue to lead strategic initiatives throughout the company to improve customer service levels and increase Motion’s productivity.

“With their expertise and substantial achievements, James and Joe are both proven, integral leaders and key to Motion’s success,” says Randy Breaux, president of Motion, in a statement. “Both promotions are well-deserved, and we look forward to seeing continued company success under their guidance.”

With annual sales of over $5.5 billion and over 500 locations, including 65 in Canada, Motion is an industrial distributor of bearings, mechanical power transmission products, electrical and industrial automation components, hydraulic and pneumatic components, and more.