Grainger, a global supplier of industry safety solutions, has announced the appointment of Matt Fortin as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective September 13, 2023.

Fortin has been a part of the group for over 16 years, and this appointment represents a promotion, given his role as the VP of the Merchandising and Supplier Management function since 2018. During his tenure, he has successfully transitioned into leadership roles at Grainger. Prior to joining Grainger, he served at General Motors for over 12 years, where he held various leadership positions.

Welcoming Fortin to the leadership team, D.G. Macpherson, Chairman and CEO of Grainger, remarked, "With nearly two decades of experience in various roles at Grainger, Matt brings an innate understanding of our business and our diverse team member populations. Grainger is frequently recognised for its inclusive culture, where our team members are valued, encouraged to be themselves, and empowered to voice their opinions. I believe Matt will be a strong advocate for enhancing the team member experience and serving the customers and communities we are privileged to serve."

The group's official announcement highlights that Fortin possesses over 20 years of extensive experience in team leadership, spanning manufacturing, purchasing, product assortment, continuous improvement, and general management.

On the academic front, Fortin holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, a fellowship from General Motors, and a Bachelor's degree in MIS from the University of Dayton. Additionally, he currently serves as the executive sponsor for the Asian and Pacific Islander Business Resource Group at Grainger.

Based on a LinkedIn announcement by Grainger last week, the former SVP and CHRO of the group since 2018, Kathleen Carroll has sadly passed away.