RETIREMENT SPECIAL
TED ELIOT PRESIDENT, CONNELL BROTHERS
Ted Eliot with Brayton Wilbur, Jr.
CONNELL BROTHERS SECURES ITS FUTURE The son of an American diplomat, Ted Eliot was born in Germany and raised overseas. In 1978 he graduated from Callison College, University of the Pacific in California, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Economics, and later completed the Stanford Business School Executive Program in 1990. Ted joined Connell Brothers as a new college graduate. During Ted’s tenure, the Asia-Pacific region experienced tremendous growth. By the 1980s, Connell Brothers focused its business completely on specialty chemicals and ingredients. At the time, it was a bold decision made by the company to narrow the focus of the business, but one that secured its future. Recognizing the value of the company’s longstanding customer
relationships, major U.S. and European manufacturers selected Connell Brothers as their marketing representative in the region. The dramatic increase in market presence, in part created by these partnerships, firmly established Connell Brothers’ reputation as one of the most successful marketing and distribution companies in the Asia-Pacific going into Ted Eliot with his wife Karen and daughters Caroline, Emily and Victoria. the 21st century.
BEGINNINGS
THE MOVE TO ASIA
Ted’s first assignment with Connell Brothers was in the company’s machinery department, which handled inquiries from and shipments to customers in Asia-Pacific. During his first weeks in the office he wore his only suit, a graduation gift, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and wore an old corduroy jacket on Tuesdays and Thursdays. His first paycheck went towards a second suit. The machinery department experience taught Ted the ropes of the business. He also helped manage a project supplying all the materials for a VIP airport lounge for the King of Saudi Arabia. This assignment helped demonstrate to management at Wilbur-Ellis that he was ready for bigger things.
Ted remained in the Bay Area and worked out of the San Francisco office for two years. In 1980 he was appointed General Manager of the Okinawa, Japan office and made the move to Asia where he spent the next seventeen and a half years. After eighteen months in Japan (1980-1981), Ted was posted to Thailand for seven years (1981-1988), two as Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, and then Hong Kong for nine years (1988-1997), serving as General Manager, Regional Manager and Vice President.
“I’ve had a lot of fun with this job. It certainly suited me in the sense that I rarely did the same thing two days in a row and was able to travel when necessary and never felt anchored to my desk. The travel could be exhausting, but it was also endlessly interesting.” – Ted Eliot
During his time in Asia, Ted notes that certain years, moments if you will, do stand out as highlights. For example, 1983 was a critical year in Thailand when the economy began to boom and the business took off. In 1990, the Hong
Kong operation lost a key supplier and yet the staff pulled together, brought in new business, and barely skipped a beat. The operation grew and expanded into China where today we have a very strong and profitable business.
Ted returned to the United States in 1997 and became President of the Division in 1999. He has been based in Wilbur-Ellis’ San Francisco headquarters since this time, but would often travel extensively to Asia.
CONNELL BROTHERS DIVISION TRANSFORMATION Under Ted’s leadership, Connell Brothers has had an unprecedented increase in growth and profitability. The Division has expanded to include multiple new countries and product segments, aided by several key, strategic acquisitions. Connell Brothers is now
the unquestioned leader in specialty chemical distribution in Asia. Perhaps Ted’s most significant contribution has been the development of a world-class team that is now comprised of over 1,100 employees in over 47 locations in 17 countries.
“One of the secrets to success, I think, in developing CBC’s foothold in Asia was to employ a workforce comprised of both local nationals and corporate representation – a practice easy in theory but challenging to execute as it can take time for cultures as well as individuals to adapt to one another in order to work cohesively and successfully.” – Ted Eliot Ted Eliot attends The Asia Foundation gala dinner. Pictured here with his wife Karen, and Wilbur-Ellis Board Member Matthew Rowland.
END OF AN ERA AT CONNELL BROTHERS, NEW BEGINNINGS For more than three decades, Ted Eliot has made a significant contribution to, and impact on Connell Brothers, as well as its customers and suppliers. Reflecting on his leadership style, John Thacher describes Ted as being both “thoughtful and insightful, and driven by results.” The company celebrated Ted’s career in December at an event attended by Ted’s colleagues and friends, all wishing him a happy retirement. “I was fortunate to have some excellent mentors from the beginning. At Wilbur-Ellis, we are each given the freedom to
L to R: Ted Eliot, Carter Thacher, Mary Thacher, Brayton Wilbur Jr., Judy Wilbur.
take risks and given authority with responsibility. I learned this job along the way, and not without the occasional setback. But I’ve also had the great fortune to work with an extraordinary group, particularly in Asia. I’ve worked with people whom I respect, admire and appreciate very much like Brayton Wilbur Jr., whose personal interest in and support of the Asia operation was important. The company thrives, and I have certainly thrived, on this strong entrepreneurial culture where ideas are encouraged. Wilbur-Ellis continues to grow, and that is truly a testament to our people.” – Ted Eliot
TED ELIOT’S TIME WITH
CONNELL BROTHERS
1978
1980
1981
Connell Brothers narrowed its focus to specialty chemicals and increased its presence in Southeast Asia Moved to Asia; Served as General Manager in Okinawa, Japan
Promoted to Vice President of Connell Brothers
Served as General Manager in Hong Kong and China
Served as General Manager in Thailand
Joined Connell Brothers
1986 Served as Regional Manager in Southeast Asia
1989
1992 Served as Regional Manager for Connell Brothers in North Asia
1995
1997
1999
Became President of Connell Brothers
Express Chemicals (Malaysia)
1999
1999
Returned to the United States to San Francisco headquarters
2004 2009
Transchem (Australia) 2002 Barnett Chemicals (Australia) Hercules Paper (Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Malaysia)
2000
Connell Brothers celebrates its 105th anniversary and begins its third century of operation
2002
Newson International (China)
2005 Polygon (New Zealand) Material Resource (Philippines) Cahaya (Indonesia)
2006
2014
Gulf Chemicals (Malaysia)
Enzyme Solutions (Australia)
2008
2015
Selsen (Taiwan)
Mascot Universal (India)
AQUISITIONS Acquisitions in Asia during Ted Eliot’s tenure as president of Connell Brothers
2015
2015
Connell Brothers reaches 47 offices in 17 countries and continues to hold the title of largest marketer and distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients
Ideas to Grow With
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Wilbur-Ellis