On April 19, 2021, Eric R. Tapia, Vice President, Controller and principal accounting officer of W.W. Grainger, Inc. resigned effective on April 30, 2021 to pursue a new opportunity. Mr. Tapia's resignation is unrelated to any disagreement with the Company or its independent auditors. Effective on April 30, 2021, Laurie R. Thomson will become the Company's new Vice President, Controller and principal accounting officer. Ms. Thomson has served as Vice President, Internal Audit and Finance Continuous Improvement of the Company since November 2019. Previously, she served as Vice President, Internal Audit of the Company from October 2016 to November 2019, Senior Director, Finance from June 2011 to September 2016, and Director, Internal Audit from February 2008 to June 2011.
W.W Grainger, Inc. specializes in professional distribution of industrial supplies and equipment. The group supplies businesses and institutions with maintenance equipment, industrial safety supplies, service and maintenance parts, lighting products, ventilation equipment, pumps and plumbing products, etc.
At the end of 2020, products are marketed through a network of 407 branches (of which 287 in the United States and 49 in Canada), 29 distribution centers (of which 17 in the United States and 5 in Canada), through catalogues and the Internet.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: the United States (72.6%), Canada (4%) and other (23.4%).
W.W. GRAINGER, INC. 
