Jeannine Ghaleb named COO of Cantrex Nationwide

Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, June 1, 2012

MONTREAL — Company veteran Jeannine Ghaleb has been named chief operating officer of what is now called Cantrex Nationwide in the wake of the Canadian buying group's acquisition by Nationwide Marketing Group. All other members of the senior management team will remain in their current roles.

Jeannine Ghaleb

Winston Salem, N.C.-based Nationwide acquired Cantrex from Sears Canada at the end of April for about $3.5 million. This is the first time in 15 years that Cantrex has been owned by an organization whose core business is operating a buying group for independent furniture, mattress and appliance retailers.

In a statement, Nationwide said the acquisition makes it the largest buying and marketing group of its kind in North America serving more than 4,000 independent retail organizations that operate about 9,000 storefronts with annual sales approaching US$14 billion.

The company's Canadian arm will operate under the Cantrex Nationwide banner.

"Nationwide is always trying to increase our scale and improve our efficiencies," said Nationwide President and CEO Robert Weisner. "Joining forces with Canada's leading group means increased influence, greater buying power and enhanced resources for every Nationwide member,"

Cantrex Nationwide, as the Canadian buying group is now known, has this new logo.

He said current Cantrex management and member support staff will remain in place as an independent division "focused on the unique characteristics and language requirements of the Canadian marketplace.... We look forward to providing them with additional tools and resources to help Cantrex Nationwide members buy better, sell smarter and compete tougher."

Ghaleb, an 11-year Cantrex veteran, had been vice president of corporate development and operations before stepping in to the newly created COO post. She was the primary conduit between the senior management of Cantrex and Sears Canada.

Weisner said Ghaleb has extensive experience in senior leadership roles and has in-depth knowledge in strategic planning, pricing, negotiations, mergers and acquisitions, marketing as well as both human and business development.

"We are confident the leadership team is in an excellent position to maintain and grow the services offered to the Cantrex membership for years to come," Weisner said.

Ghaleb said the Nationwide acquisition should enable Cantrex get to the next level of its growth and development.

"Cantrex began as an entrepreneurial company serving entrepreneurs more than 50 years ago and we feel this spirit is reflected in Nationwide's roots too. Our goal is to support our members with the power to succeed and we are in a great position to deliver on that promise," she said.

She added that for Cantrex Nationwide's members, staff, and vendors, operations will continue pretty much as usual except for the addition of a variety of new services and benefits that will be phased in during the coming months.