Exertis Almo executive vice president and COO Sam Taylor is set to retire later this year; Taylor is in charge of more than 250 employees and annual revenues of approximately $1B.

Dan Smith—who most recently served as U.S. vice president of sales, IT, and commercial large format displays at LG—has been named his successor. Smith will assume the position of executive vice president and COO on January 17, 2023, while Taylor will remain involved in the business and lead the transition until his official retirement in June 2023.

“Sam has made a tremendous impact on the ProAV industry as a well-respected distribution expert who has brought immeasurable opportunities to his staff, vendor partners, and the reseller/integrator community,” said Warren Chaiken, president and CEO of Almo Corp. “In 2009, Sam was instrumental in the formation of Almo Pro A/V, which quickly grew to become the largest Pro AV distributor, then following Exertis’ 2021 acquisition of Almo Corporation, Sam successfully led the integration of two major Pro AV businesses to become Exertis Almo.”

Watch the video below to learn more about the future of Exertis Almo.

 

“After more than 35 years in the ProAV industry, I have had the opportunity to experience more than I could’ve ever imagined, with the ultimate goal of growing the essential role of distribution. I am now looking forward to spending time giving back both inside and out of the ProAV industry,” said Taylor. “Dan Smith is the ideal successor for EVP/COO at Exertis Almo having served in leadership positions for manufacturer, distributor, and integrator companies, which gives him a diverse perspective. Over the next six months, we will work together through the transition to ensure that business remains as per usual and that growth continues for our employees and partners.”

“I am both humbled and honored to step into the role of EVP/COO for Exertis Almo,” said Smith. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for Sam and look forward to working with him to ensure that our staff and our channel relationships continue to thrive.”