Meet Boyden Moore with Orgill: 2024 CEO of the Year
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Boyden Moore, the venerable CEO of Orgill, meticulously guided the company through 177 years of turbulence – from the Civil War to a yellow fever epidemic. This impressive track record has crowned Moore as the Memphis 2024 CEO of the Year.
Steering The Oldest Ship
Orgill, a family-owned business, celebrates being the oldest company not only in Memphis but also in Tennessee. Moore regards this as the testament to the wisdom of his predecessors and credits Orgill’s adaptability for its successful tenure. Thus far, Moore is only the ninth president at Orgill, which he considers a significant responsibility.
Adapting To Changing Tides
Moore explains that Orgill serves the home-improvement industry. With competitors like Home Depot and Lowe’s taking up half the market, Orgill serves around 13,000 of the other half, mainly comprising independent hardware stores, home centers, lumber yards, and farm stores all across the country.
Since Moore took the helm of Orgill and managed to break back into retail, the company’s growth has increased remarkably. Today, Orgill’s retail stores alone account for half of the firm’s 7,000 employees.
Battle Against The Pandemic
Moore’s tenure as CEO, which started in January 2020, coincided with the onslaught of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this daunting challenge, he successfully steered the company through by prioritizing safety and adapting to the changing dynamics, as Orgill’s offerings were deemed critical to home health and sanitation.
As people spent more time at home, demand for home improvement products surged, catapulting Orgill’s revenue growth by 50% from $2.5 billion in 2019 to $3.7 billion just three years later. Moore credits this surge in demand to the company’s continual commitment to delivering on customer needs, which also attracted new business.
A Legacy of Teamwork
Moore acknowledges that his recognition as CEO of the Year reflects the outstanding performance of the entire Orgill team. He asserts that the team, particularly those on the front lines serving customers, are the most crucial part of Orgill’s success.
In the face of a rapidly changing post-pandemic business environment, Moore believes the secret to Orgill’s long-standing success is the company’s unwavering focus on teamwork and its mission to help small businesses succeed.
About CEO of the Year
For over a decade, Memphis Magazine has celebrated a select group of CEOs each year. These visionaries and executives uplift their companies, their employees, and their community, making a meaningful difference through innovation, employee welfare, and philanthropy. The 2024 CEO of the Year event is sponsored by eBiz Solutions and ProTech Services Group.
