Ferguson Executive to Deliver
Winter Commencement Address at CNU
News Release - December 1, 2005
contact:
Karen L. Gill
karen.gill@cnu.edu
(757) 594-8428
(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) — Claude “Chip” A.S. Hornsby III, chief executive of Wolseley’s North American operations and former president and chief executive officer of Ferguson Enterprises, will deliver the 2005 Winter Commencement address at Christopher Newport University . Commencement exercises will begin at 10 a.m. on Dec. 17 at The Freeman Center on the CNU campus.
“Chip Hornsby’s life models the qualities that we work to impart to all of our graduates – commitment to excellence, leadership and civic engagement,” said CNU President Paul Trible. “We are honored that Chip will speak to the University community on this important occasion.”
As chief executive of Wolseley’s North American operations, Hornsby is responsible for three businesses: Ferguson Enterprises, Stock Building Supply and Wolseley Canada. Effective Aug. 1, 2006, Hornsby will relinquish the executive position for Wolseley’s North American operations to become the group chief executive of Wolseley plc, and direct the world wide operations of the company.
Hornsby is a graduate of Menchville High School in Newport News and Virginia Polytechnic and State University. He joined Ferguson as a management trainee 27 years ago and has held a number of increasingly important positions in the company.
Hornsby is a member of the National Association of Wholesalers, Southern Wholesalers Association and American Supply Association. He serves on the Pamplin Advisory Council at Virginia Tech and is on the CNU Board of Visitors. Hornsby resides in Mathews County with his wife, Lynn, and three daughters.
Wolseley plc, a $20.8 billion business, is the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Wolseley has over 60,000 employees and operates in 14 countries.
Please visit www.cnu.edu/commencement/events.html for the complete schedule of CNU commencement activities.
Christopher Newport University is a four-year public university in Newport News, Virginia. CNU enrolls 4,800 students in programs through its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Luter School of Business and offers great teaching, small classes and an emphasis on leadership, civic engagement and honor. Visit us at www.cnu.edu.