Hughes Hires Ex-Proctor & Gamble Marketer

ORLANDO-Hoping to shore up a weakened bottom line and a leaner work force, locally based Hughes Supply Co. has hired two seasoned executives and promoted a five-year professional.

Tom Starnes, a 20-year former sales and marketing pro at Proctor & Gamble, Frito Lay and U.S. Office Products, is senior vice president, sales/marketing. John Steele, a former distribution specialist at Atlanta-based Genuine Parts Co., is vice president/operations. Laura Wright, director of human resources, moves up to vice president in the same division. All three report directly to Tom Morgan, president/CEO.

The personnel announcement follows the company’s layoffs of 40 staffers in early June from its 700-person work force. The 6% staff cuts were Hughes’ first layoffs since the 1991 recession.