Publication date: 26 March 2008
Mitchell will speak at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 2008, at The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., where EDS 2008 meets from May 6 to 8.
The topic of Mr. Mitchell's keynote address is "Facing the Realities of our Industry...Where we are and what we need to do." Mr. Mitchell will focus his remarks on important issues and opportunities confronting the electronics industry including the current volatility in the financial markets, growth areas, environmental compliance, governmental regulation, quality control and the pressure of rising energy prices. This will be his first keynote address at EDS.
"Our directors are delighted Bill has accepted the invitation to open EDS 2008 by speaking on matters that are vital to the future of the electronics distribution industry. His presentation-shaped by a unique strategic perspective-promises to stimulate the thinking of those attending EDS this year," said Gerald M. Newman, EDS executive vice president.
"I am honored to be presenting this year's keynote address at EDS. I look forward to sharing my insights on the business realities facing our industry and what we need to do to address them," said Mr. Mitchell.
William E. Mitchell was named Chairman of Arrow Electronics in May 2006. He also is Arrow's chief executive officer, a position he has held since February 2003 when he joined the company's senior management team.
Mitchell began his career in 1973 with Raychem Corporation, where he held a variety of positions in finance, manufacturing operations, international operations, and worldwide sales and marketing. In 1993, he was named president and chief executive officer of Nashua Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty products and services for print application needs.
In 1995, Mitchell became chairman, president and chief executive officer of Sequel Inc., a privately held disk drive repair and maintenance company. In 1999, he joined Solectron Corporation and formed Solectron Global Services Inc., a services outsourcing enterprise. Solectron subsequently acquired Sequel, Inc.
Mitchell holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Princeton University, where he was a University Scholar and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received a master's degree in engineering from the University of Michigan, where he was named a National Science Foundation Fellow.
He serves on the board of directors of the Brown-Forman Corporation. Mitchell is a trustee of Eisenhower Fellowships, and a member of the Executive Board of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, and the National Advisory Committee of the University of Michigan College of Engineering. He also is a member of the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund's Leadership Committee.
Arrow Electronics (www.arrow.com) is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for approximately 700 suppliers and 140,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 300 locations in 50 countries and territories.
EDS-Where the Electronics Industry Connects-is North America's foremost venue for business-to-business meetings and networking for the electronic distribution industry. Key representatives from the three major areas of the industry-distribution, manufacturing and professional field sales-attend EDS.
EDS is sponsored by the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association (ECA), the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) and the National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA). EDS facilitates sales and marketing partnerships in the global electronics distribution industry. Convened annually since 1937, EDS provides conferences, educational programs, planning sessions, networking opportunities and a show floor for exhibitors.
For more information or to register for EDS 2008, please visit http://www.edsconnects.com.
