Arrow Electronics Inc. (NYSE: ARW) has named William “Bill” F. Austen as interim president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He takes over from Sean Kerins, who has stepped down as director, president, and CEO. The company confirmed that Kerins’ departure is unrelated to its financial reporting, and he will assist with transition efforts.
Austen has been a member of Arrow’s board since 2020. He will continue in that role but has resigned as chair of the corporate governance committee and as a member of the compensation committee. The board has launched a search to identify a permanent CEO.
Independent Board Chair Steven Gunby said the leadership team, supported by Austen, will guide Arrow through the transition. “We have full confidence in the ability of the current leadership team, with Bill Austen’s support, to lead Arrow during this period of transition, and appreciate Bill’s willingness to step into this role,” Gunby said.
Austen brings decades of executive leadership experience. He served as president, CEO, and director of Bemis Company Inc., a global manufacturer of flexible packaging and pressure-sensitive materials, until June 2019. Before that, he was Bemis’ executive vice president of operations and chief operating officer. Over his nearly two-decade tenure at Bemis, he held multiple senior operational roles. Austen also served on the boards of Tennant Company from 2007 to 2022 and Arconic Corporation from 2020 to 2023.
Kerins had led Arrow since June 2022, after more than a decade with the company in leadership roles, including as president of Arrow Global Enterprise Computing Solutions.
Headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, Arrow Electronics is a Fortune 500 company that provides technology products, services, and solutions for industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing systems. Austen’s interim appointment offers continuity while the board works to select a long-term leader.
