Rexel
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical equipment distribution |
| Predecessor | Compagnie de Distribution de Matériel Électrique (CDME) |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Compagnie Lebon |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | 19 countries worldwide |
Key people | Guillaume Texier (CEO), Agnès Touraine (Chairwoman) |
| Products | Electrical, heating, lighting, plumbing equipment; renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services |
Number of employees | 27,000+ |
| Parent | None |
| Website | www |
Rexel S.A. is a French enterprise focused on distributing electrical, heating, lighting, and plumbing equipment, alongside products and services related to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The corporation manages 1,950 retail locations across 19 nations and employs more than 27,000 individuals. Rexel is publicly traded on the Paris Stock Exchange.
History
Rexel traces its origins to Compagnie de Distribution de Matériel Électrique (CDME), established in 1967 by Compagnie Lebon through the consolidation of four firms: Revimex, Facen, Sotel, and Lienard-Soval. Initially dedicated to selling electrical equipment, CDME expanded within France by acquiring regional family-owned businesses. By 1978, it broadened its portfolio to include professional electronic and computer equipment distribution as well as industrial supply products.
During the 1980s, CDME extended its reach internationally into markets such as Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Benelux, West Germany, Singapore, and Canada.
By 1983, CDME was listed on the unlisted securities segment of the Paris Stock Exchange, capturing over 20% market share domestically and 6% worldwide. In 1986, it entered the U.S. market with 350 sales locations, including 65 outside the country. The following year, Compagnie Française de l'Afrique Occidentale (CFAO) acquired a controlling interest of 68% in CDME.
Rexel Group
In December 1990, the Pinault Group took control of CDME, becoming its principal shareholder. CDME represented 38% of Pinault Group’s revenue and dominated the electrical equipment distribution market in France (30% share), Belgium, and Portugal.
June 1993 saw CDME merge with Groupelec Distribution and rebrand as Rexel. Throughout the 1990s, Rexel expanded its core business of electrical equipment distribution across France, Europe, and the U.S., divesting non-core electronics ventures and separating from GDFI, a significant industrial supplies distributor.
Rexel progressively consolidated its international subsidiaries under one brand: Willcox and Gibbs in the U.S. became Rexel Inc. in 1995; Rexel Italia was formed in 2000 by merging ten Italian subsidiaries; and it launched its inaugural joint venture in China named Rexel Hailongxing.
Evolution of the group
In 2005, PPR (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute) divested Rexel to the Ray Investment consortium—comprising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Eurazeo, and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Rexel was delisted from the Paris Stock Exchange but concentrated on core activities while continuing acquisitions. A significant move occurred in 2006 when Rexel acquired GE Supply’s American distribution arm—renamed Gexpro—strengthening its presence in North America and Asia-Pacific and enhancing services for major industrial clients.
In 2007, Rexel partnered with Sonepar to bid for Hagemeyer Group and transitioned into a French public limited company featuring a management and supervisory board. It resumed trading on Euronext Paris in April that year. The acquisition of Hagemeyer's European assets in 2008 doubled Rexel’s European revenues, increased retail points by half, and added five new countries including Finland and Norway to its footprint. By this time, Rexel held approximately 9% of the global professional electrical equipment distribution market with 2,500 outlets across 34 countries.
Starting in 2011, Rexel pursued acquisitions targeting emerging markets—expanding its footprint in China (Lucky Well Zhineng), Brazil (Nortel Suprimentos Industriais), India (Yantra Automation), and Peru (V&F Technologia). Early 2012 acquisitions of Delamano and Etil cemented Rexel’s leadership position in Brazil while expanding U.S. operations through purchases of Platt Electric Supply and Munro Distributing Company for €115 million enhanced energy efficiency offerings. That year also marked Rudy Provoost’s appointment as chairman alongside launching the Energy in Motion customer-focused strategy.
In June 2013, the Rexel Foundation was created to address energy poverty issues. The following year included acquiring Esabora—a software developer providing sales and administrative tools for electricians. In France, multi-energy sector capabilities were strengthened with Sofinther's acquisition in 2015. That same year saw divestments in Latin America; by January 2016 Rexel sold operations in Poland, Slovakia, and the Baltic states to Würth.
Continuing its acquisition trajectory, Rexel purchased U.S.-based Brohl & Appell in February 2016—specializing in industrial automation and maintenance repair operations services. Governance changes occurred mid-2016 with Patrick Berard appointed CEO and Ian Meakins named Chairman. February 2017 introduced a strategic plan emphasizing key markets and digital transformation within electrical equipment distribution. By December that year, Rexel exited Southeast Asia by selling operations to American Industrial Acquisition Corporation.
In 2020, Rexel divested Gexpro Services to sharpen focus on electrical equipment distribution alongside digital transformation efforts within the U.S., reinforcing a shift toward data-centric business models. Early in 2021 acquisitions included Wesco International’s Canadian operations plus Freshmile Services—an independent operator of electric vehicle charging stations—and securing a minority stake in Trace Software International to enhance electromobility solutions.
November 2021 saw acquisition of Mayer—a leading distributor of electrical products in the Eastern United States—adding 68 retail locations with $1.2 billion annual sales as of August that year. In September 2024, Rexel declined a $9.6 billion acquisition proposal from QXO Inc., led by Brad Jacobs.
Activities
Rexel specializes in providing electrical installation equipment primarily for residential, tertiary, and industrial buildings. The company also supports large-scale industrial infrastructure projects, including mines, hydroelectric plants, and natural gas facilities.
The product portfolio emphasizes medium voltage electrical systems, featuring secure meters (main circuit breakers), current conductors (cables and wires), mounting and protection components (baseboards, cable trays), circuit protection devices (auxiliary breakers, disconnect switches), as well as connection and control elements (sockets, contactors, switches). Furthermore, Rexel supplies equipment for low voltage circuits such as internet, audiovisual, and telephone systems, along with advanced building management solutions incorporating multi-protocol smart home technologies.
Rexel markets a variety of electrical appliances including lighting fixtures, heating units, ventilation and air conditioning systems, motors, telecommunication devices, and audiovisual equipment. The company has also broadened its offerings to include energy-efficient products like low-energy lighting and high-performance motors, alongside renewable energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal systems, and aerothermal solutions including heat pumps and solar water heaters.
Services
Rexel provides services across seven main areas:
- Infrastructure and network: training and maintenance
- Industrial process: training, maintenance, and technical support
- HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) services
- Lighting solutions
- Building outfitting and automation: training, commissioning, and application support
- Energy distribution and management: training, technical assistance
- Audits, pre-sales consulting, recycling programs, and waste collection
Software
In 2014, Rexel acquired Esabora, originally an e-commerce software developer that now delivers customer-centric digital tools encompassing administrative, commercial, and technical assistance. This cloud-based platform offers companies access to project studies (including 3D models and BIM), site management capabilities, customized pricing options, and real-time order tracking.
The group introduced BtoB EConnect Pro in 2021—a digital application facilitating remote diagnostics and maintenance for connected locations—strengthening its presence in smart grid and intelligent building sectors.
Data/AI
Rexel launched a consolidated web and data platform uniting all its brands and clientele in the United States market, where sales account for more than 30% of total turnover.
In September 2020, the company partnered with four other leading French corporations to support Hi! Paris, a research center established by HEC Paris and Institut Polytechnique de Paris dedicated to artificial intelligence and data science innovation.
Distribution
By December 31, 2024, Rexel Group reported sales totaling €19.285 billion. Revenue was geographically divided as follows: Europe contributed 49%, North America accounted for 44%, and Asia Pacific made up 7%.
Regarding market segments, sales consisted of 43% from the tertiary sector, 27% from industrial clients, and 30% from residential customers. The group's net operating profit reached €575 million in 2021.
Corporate governance
Rexel has functioned as a French public limited company since 2014, overseen by a Board of Directors structured with three specialized committees: Audit and Risks, Nominations, and Remuneration. The board comprises 12 directors, with women representing half of the membership and independent directors making up 80%. The company's day-to-day affairs are handled by an executive committee.
In 2016, the governance framework was revised to distinguish the roles of Chairman and CEO; Patrick Berard assumed the CEO position, while Ian Meakins took on the Chairmanship. On September 1, 2021, Guillaume Texier replaced Berard as CEO. The Executive Committee, which includes nine members, reports directly to the CEO. In 2023, Agnès Touraine was named Chairwoman of the Board.