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Leviton reorganizes after passing of CEO

Dec. 1, 2007

Donald Hendler and Stephen Sokolow have been named CEO and chairman of the board respectively for Leviton Manufacturing Company ...

Donald Hendler and Stephen Sokolow have been named CEO and chairman of the board respectively for Leviton Manufacturing Company (leviton.com), following the recent passing of former CEO Harold Leviton. The Little Neck, NY electrical and telecommunications component manufacturer includes the Leviton Voice & Data Division (www.levitonvoicedata.com) in Bothell, WA.

Through a carefully architected succession plan, Harold Leviton ensured that the company his father started in 1906 would continue to serve the marketplace as a private, family-owned-and-operated company. He passed away in early September, leaving two of his sons-in-law to lead the company.

Donald Hendler Click here to enlarge image

“The Leviton family business will continue to grow as we embark on our second century in business,” says Hendler. “I am proud to accept leadership responsibility on behalf of Harold and the Leviton family. We have a number of exciting initiatives planned for the coming months, and both Steve and I look forward to the opportunity of implementing these and moving the Leviton Company forward in the same friendly, family atmosphere that has become a part of our heritage, philosophy and culture.”

Before his appointment as president in 2005, Hendler served as executive vice president where he directed strategic planning, human resources and distribution initiatives, as well as sales, marketing, and product development for Leviton North America and subsidiary American Insulated Wire. He has also held positions of prominence within the industry, having served on the Education Foundation for the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), and as a member of the government relations committee of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

Stephen Sokolow Click here to enlarge imageSokolow began his career at Leviton in 1961 as a summer intern, working his way up to facilities manager and numerous other positions before his appointment as executive vice president in 2005, through which he directed the company’s manufacturing, engineering, distribution, and information technology operations. Sokolow has served as technical chairman of the Electronic Data Exchange Joint Committee of NAED, NEMA, and NEMRA, and was chairman of NEMA’s wiring device section.