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Legrand Announces Leadership Updates within Lighting Sector in North and Central America Region 



WEST HARTFORD, CT (March 12, 2024) Legrand®, a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures, including lighting, announced the following organizational updates within its Lighting Sector Leadership Team at Legrand, North and Central America (LNCA). These changes are effective April 1, 2024, with the executives featured reporting to Tom Lowery, President of LNCA’s Lighting Sector and Building Control Systems division.

Comprised of Finelite, Focal Point, Kenall, OCL Architectural Lighting, and Pinnacle, LNCA’s Lighting Sector delivers unique lighting and acoustic solutions that transform interior and exterior spaces where people live, work, and meet. They meet a variety of customer needs, such as delivering high-performance lighting including safe, visible light disinfection, being easy to specify and install, supporting sustainability goals, creating more comfortable environments, being durable and certified to perform in challenging applications, and enhancing architectural spaces.

Current President of Focal Point, Jimalee Beno will be moving into a more expansive role across LNCA as Vice President – Strategy for LNCA’s Lighting Sector. This is a cross-functional leadership role that has been open since Jim Young assumed the role of President of Pinnacle last year. In her new role, Jimalee will partner with each of the region’s lighting brands to develop and execute plans that promote market leadership and accelerate profitable growth. Jimalee is recognized as a thought leader in the lighting industry, a recognition that will be honored at the EdisonReport’s 9th Annual Lifetime Achievement Awards at LEDucation this month. “Jimalee has successfully led two of LNCA’s lighting brands, OCL and Focal Point, and brings over 30 years of industry experience across multiple functions. This overview perspective, plus her passion for progress and innovation, makes her an ideal person for this important role,” said Lowery.

With this change, Jennifer Butler will be transitioning from President of LNCA’s OCL organization into the Focal Point President role. Jennifer has over 20 years of industry experience including roles at Intense Lighting, Peerless/Acuity, and Cooper Lighting. “With Jennifer’s leadership, the OCL team has experienced exciting growth and introduced numerous award-winning products. Her experience leading one of LNCA’s lighting brands, coupled with her specification-grade linear and downlights expertise, makes her a natural fit to lead the Focal Point business,” said Lowery.

Finally, Chad Simpson has been named President of OCL, in addition to continuing to lead the OCL Sales Function which has been his role since last June as VP of Sales. Prior to joining OCL, Chad was the Director of Architectural Sales for Birchwood/Intense Lighting, and he held multiple roles at Cree LED Lighting and Acuity Brands. “Chad has made a significant impact in growing OCL’s customer-focused culture and position in the market. In addition, his strong relationships with OCL’s agency base will serve him well as President. I am confident Chad and the rest of the OCL leadership team will continue Jennifer’s legacy of making sure OCL is an innovative organization that is easy to do business with,” said Lowery.

About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America 

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial, and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and responsible growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings—including products with enhanced value in use (faster expanding segments: datacenters, connected offerings and energy efficiency programs). Legrand reported sales of €8.4 billion in 2023. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is notably a component stock of the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG and CAC SBT 1.5 indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819). https://www.legrand.us/