Brad Cowles

Biography

 Brad Cowles is the Chief Operating Officer of HD Supply Waterworks and Fire Protection, reporting directly to President Steve LeClair. He leads a team of professionals throughout the country focused on the company’s core growth initiatives across all customer channels. With direct responsibility for Information Technology, Marketing, National Accounts, and Market Development, he spearheads the company’s key capital-intensive sales initiatives. Prior to becoming COO in February 2017, Brad was the CIO and founding member of the parent company HD Supply’s IT leadership team. He led the business-focused technology organization through over 30 acquisitions, divestiture from The Home Depot under private equity ownership and through an incredible growth story to become a publicly-traded independent company. Brad joined HD Supply in 2005 as Sr. Manager, Mergers and Acquisitions, and was promoted to Director IT, Sr. Director IT, and V.P. IT roles culminating as CIO in 2015. Prior to joining HD Supply, Brad spent 11 years with Michelin where he started as a Tire Design Engineer, with promotions to R&D Quality Engineer, Technical Services Manager and Program Manager. In 2016, Brad was recognized with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Year Award from the Georgia CIO Leadership Association. He serves as an Advisory Board Member of Georgia CIO and Evanta Atlanta CIO Inner Circle. Brad attended the University of Florida where he earned both an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering– Gas Dynamics and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with honors. He is fluent in French

Research Interest

 His research interest is in construction engineering