Van Dongen joins Proton board of advisors
Dirk Van Dongen, former president and CEO of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, has joined the board of advisors for Proton, a provider of AI-powered distribution sales management.
“What distributors do is real and important. They are the reason why customers have what they need when they need it, something made even more critical by the pandemic,” said Van Dongen. “And they do what they do so very well that it’s underappreciated.”
Van Dongen retired from his role at NAW after serving 41 years, but his commitment to helping distributors remain the channel of choice continues.
“Few service providers truly understand and serve the distribution industry, and few tools actually drive material returns for them in the way that Proton does,” he said.
In his role as a senior advisor, Van Dongen will help distributors understand how they can and should leverage AI, and what the risks are of non or late adoption.
“I have tremendous respect for Dirk and his knowledge of the industry,” said Benj Cohen, Proton founder and CEO. “Dirk brings a depth of experience in the distribution industry that will help Proton continue to create AI solutions for distributors that help them stay ahead of the competition and reclaim market share.”
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The March/April issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Joyce Lansdale and Vallen. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and David Kahle, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
