ECA to assume management of EDS, opening new chapter in show's history
ECA to work with NEDA and ERA to produce show by the industry for the industry

LAS VEGAS, May 11, 2010 - A new chapter in the history of the 73-year-old Electronic Distribution Show (EDS) opened today when it was announced that the Electronic Components Association (ECA) will assume management for EDS 2011 through 2013.

The change will give the three long-time sponsoring organization _ ECA, the National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA), and the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) - greater day-to-day input into the structure and future of EDS.

The EDS Board - with equal representation from ECA, NEDA and ERA - is maintaining continuity for next year's event by retaining Gerald Newman, long-time leader of EDS's management team, as general counsel for the show, and having Gretchen Oie continue as EDS show manager on ECA's conference staff.

"The electronics industry owes a debt of gratitude to the management team led by Gerald Newman," says James Kaplan, President of Cornell Dubilier and EDS Board president. "We plan to maintain the standards of management excellence sustained by EDS over many decades, while infusing the show with new ideas and programs based on direct input from the electronics distribution community."

Bob Willis, ECA president, says the new management will ensure that the annual event reflects the ongoing needs of the three sponsoring organization's members.

"We will tap into current industry issues and our memberships' priorities to make EDS the premier event for achieving supply chain excellence," he says. "This will truly be an event managed by the industry for the industry."