1935
Arrow begins as a retail electronics store on New York City's Radio Row
1946
Arrow becomes incorporated
1961
Arrow goes public, consisting of two retail stores and an electronics distribution business
1968-69
The Company undergoes its first rebirth when three Harvard Business School friends acquire a controlling interest in Arrow. These three visionaries, Duke Glenn Jr., Roger Green, John Waddell, saw the future and recognized a unique opportunity for Arrow
Arrow acquires GCS Electronics Division
Arrow acquires Schuylkill Products Company and Schuylkill Lead Corp., secondary lead smelter and refiner
1971
Arrow becomes one of the 10 largest electronics distributors in the country with seven distribution centers and seven retail stores in New York City
Arrow enters electrical distribution through the acquisition of National Electrical Supply Co.
Arrow's retail business establishes licensed consumer electronics in 14 departments in retail stores
1973
Arrow acquires Kay Electric Supply Co.
1974
Arrow develops an integrated online, real-time computer system--the first in electronics distribution
1975
A total of 56,000 tons of refined lead is shipped by Schuylkill, Arrow's Refining Division—highest output in company history
Arrow introduces its own brand of BH speakers for its retail stores
1976
Arrow discontinues its retail division, concentrating exclusively on growing the distribution and refining business
Arrow moves from the tenth position to fifth largest electronics distributor and the past five years of record growth establishes Arrow as the fastest growing of the nation's leading electronics distributors
Schulykill is ranked among the country's five largest lead recyclers
1977
Schulykill becomes the third largest secondary lead producer
1979
The first listing of Arrow's common stock is on the New York Stock Exchange, traded under symbol ARW
A new Arrow logo is established, which is still widely recognized and in use today
Arrow acquires Cramer Electronics, making Arrow a national coast-to-coast distributor for the first time
1980
On December 4, 13 executives die in a fire at a planning meeting at the Stouffer Inn in Westchester, NY. This tragic incident still ranks among the worst corporate disasters in American business. No one could anticipate that Arrow would have the fortitude to turn its tragedy into the inspiration and drive that would make it one of the world's largest distributors.
Acquisition of Cramer Electronics complete; making Arrow the second largest distributor
All distribution centers are linked to a central computer for full integration, online, real-time data for inventory nationwide and control over shipping, purchasing, and billing
1982
Arrow opens a 62,000 square foot primary distribution center in Hayward, CA
Arrow acquires Computrend and Computer Products Supply Co., Inc.
Arrow acquires Tower Olschan Corp.
1983
Arrow acquires High Technologies Distribution Inc.
1984
Arrow expands its field programming capability with the addition of nine high capacity regional centers
Arrow acquires Cesco Electronics (Canada), Arrow's first venture outside the US
1985
Arrow Advantage places real-time access to Arrow's entire national inventory directly in the customer's plant
Arrow sells its Electrical Division
Arrow acquires a 40 percent interest in Spoerle Electronics (Germany)
1986
Stephen P. Kaufman is named president and chief executive officer
Arrow announces the Arrow ASIC program
Arrow acquires Axiom Electronics Ltd. (England)
1987
Arrow opens the industry's first Automated Distribution Center in Brookhaven, NY
Arrow acquires the electronic distribution business of Ducommun Inc., consisting of Kierulff Electronics, Ducommun Data Systems, MTI Systems Corp. This signified the largest consolidation in the history of electronics distribution by uniting the country's second and fourth largest distributors.
Arrow embarks on a joint venture in Tokyo, Japan with Teksel Co., Ltd., creating a new division, Arrow/Tek
Arrow discontinues its Schuylkill Metals business
Daniel W. Duval joins Arrow as a Director on the Board of Directors
1989
Arrow announces the formation of Capstone Electronics Corp. and Connector Assembly Supercenter
Arrow acquires RR Electronics Ltd. (England)
Spoerle acquires Retron Group (Germany)
Arrow introduces a newly formed subsidiary in Aurora, CO to market passive, electromechanical and connector products through the US
1990
Two new primary distribution centers (PDCs) open in Sparks, NV and Denver, CO
1991
Arrow acquires the North American distribution centers for Lex Services PLC, the third largest distributor known as Schweber and Almac Electronics
Arrow conducts Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), computer-to-computer linkage between Arrow and its suppliers
First electronics distributor certified to ISO 9000
Lenexa Connector Assembly Supercenter opens
Corporate Web site, arrow.com, is launched
Arrow acquires a 50 percent interest in SilverStar Ltd., Italy
Spoerle acquires Holland's Diode Electronice
1992
Through its wholly owner subsidiary, EDI Electronics Distribution International BV, Arrow becomes the largest participant in the Pan-European Electronics Distribution
Arrow acquires European Lex Service PLC
1993
Arrow acquires Zeus Components Inc.
Arrow acquires an additional 15 percent interest in Spoerle Electronic and announces more European acquisitions: Microprocessor and Memory Distribution (UK), Amitron S.A., ATD Group in Spain and Portugal, and CCI Electronique in France
Arrow acquires CAL Group (Hong Kong), making Arrow the first US distributor present in the Pacific Rim
1994
Stephen P. Kaufman appointed chairman of the board, succeeding John C. Waddell, vice chairman
Arrow acquires Gates/FA Distributing and Anthem Electronics, forming Gates/Arrow Electronics
Arrow acquires TH Electronik AB in Sweden, Exatec A/S in Denmark, The Megachip Group in France, Field Oy in the Nordic region, and increases its share in Spoerle Electronic to 70 percent and increases holdings in SilverStar
Arrow acquires Texney Glorytact (HK) Limited and Australia-based companies Veltek Australia Pty Ltd., and Zatek Australia Pty Ltd.
1995
Affiliates with two Taipei-based components distributors; Ally Inc. and Lite-On Group
Spoerle Electronic acquires HED Heinrich Electronic Distribution GmbH
Arrow acquires New Zealand-based company Components Plus Instrumentation Ltd. to form Arrow Components (NZ) Limited
Introduces Arrow CARES (the industry's first PC-based Customer Automated Replenishment System)
1996
Silverstar acquires Milan-based Eurelettronica S.p.A.
Arrow acquires the FES Group (the volume electronic component distribution business (FES) of Premier Farnell, plc.)
1997
Gates/Arrow acquires a majority interest in Consan Inc., SupportNet, Inc., and Scientific and Business Minicomputers Inc. (SBM)
Arrow introduces i-Track, an online order tracking system
Major realignment of Arrow's North American component distribution operations around the unique needs of specific customer segments
1998
Arrow acquires Richey Electronics, Inc. and Bell Industries Inc. to make Arrow a leading PEMCO distributor
Altech/Arrow, a joint venture with Altron group, opens a new state-of-the-art logistics center in Johannesburg
Arrow embarks on a joint venture with Marubun Corp. (Japan)
Arrow Iberia acquires Unitronics Componentes, S.A.
Spoerle acquires Industrade AG (Switzerland)
1999
Arrow acquires a majority interest in Panamericana Commercial Importadora S.A. (Brazil) and a majority stake in the Elko Group (Argentina)
Stephen P. Kaufman becomes a board member of RosettaNet, an independent, nonprofit consortium focusing on driving B2B standards
Arrow's online supply chain management tools, arrow.com PRO-Series, are created. The tools replace i-Track and far exceeds it in functionality
Arrow introduces credit card ordering on arrow.com
2000
Francis M. Scricco is appointed chief executive officer; Stephen P. Kaufman steps down after 14 years but remains chairman
Arrow is the first electronics distributor to begin conducting transactions using RosettaNet standards
Arrow acquires Wyle components and systems divisions of the VEBA Electronics Group
Arrow acquires MOCA
Arrow acquires a majority interest in Dicopel S.A. de C.V. in Mexico
Arrow acquires a majority interest in Israel's Rapac Electronics; Tekelec (France); and acquires Jakob Hatteland Electronics (Norway)
2001
Arrow opens a 430,000 square foot distribution and programming center in Reno, NV
2002
Arrow introduces the Connectivity Dashboard ™, the gateway into one online seamless work environment that provides customers with the supply chain intelligence they need to make more informed business decisions
2003
Arrow Electronics acquires Pioneer-Standard's Industrial Electronics Division (IED)
The Board of Directors of Arrow Electronics, Inc. appoints William E. Mitchell to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer
2004
Arrow commemorated its 25th anniversary of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. John Waddell, Arrow's founder, joined Bill Mitchell, Arrow's President and CEO, and Dan Duval, Arrow's Chairman of the Board, for the ringing of The Closing Bell ™
Arrow Electronics acquires European distributor Disway AG to add to its products portfolio and expand its presence in Europe
2005
With acquisition of DNS.int AG in Europe, Arrow 's computer products business expands outside of North America; Arrow's computer products business is renamed, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions
Arrow Sasco finalized its merger with Holz Elektronik and has commenced operations as Arrow Sasco Holz Gmbh
Arrow Electronics acquires 70.7% of Taiwan-based company Ultra Source Technology Corp. (TSE: 3020)
2006
Arrow acquires SKYDATA Corporation to expand storage business in Canada
Arrow's board elects William E. Mitchell Chairman and Daniel W. Duval Becomes Lead Director
Arrow names Michael J. Long President, Arrow Global Components; Philippe Combes Named President, Arrow EMEASA; Germano Fanelli, Chairman, Arrow EMEASA; Vincent Melvin, Chief Information Officer;
Peter T. Kong, President, Arrow Asia/Pacific
Arrow completes the acquisitions of Alternative Technology, Inc., based in Englewood, Colo., and InTechnology plc's storage and security distribution business, based in Harrogate, England, expanding the breadth of the Enterprise Computing Solutions business
Arrow appoints M. Catherine Morris and Kevin Gilroy to the office of the president for Enterprise Computing Solutions
2007
Arrow completes acquisition of Agilysys KeyLink Systems Group, a leading enterprise computing solutions distributor based in Cleveland, Ohio
Arrow named to the Forbes “400 Best Big Companies in America” and named as a Forbes Global 2000 Company
Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions (ECS) unveils Midmarket Solutions and Services
Arrow establishes a Japanese subsidiary and acquires Universe Electron Corporation, a Tokyo-based distributor of semiconductor and multimedia products to major Japanese manufacturers and firms
2008
Arrow acquires LOGIX S.A. from Groupe OPEN and the components distribution business of Achieva Ltd.
Arrow names Michael J. Long President and Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the company
Arrow named again to FORTUNE's Most Admired Companies and to InformationWeek 500
Andrew S. Bryant named President of Arrow Electronics' Enterprise Computing Solutions
Arrow Electronics ranks 158 in the FORTUNE 500
Laurent Sadoun named President of Arrow's Enterprise Computing Solutions business in Europe, Middle East and Africa
Arrow opens office in Vietnam
Brian McNally named President of Arrow EMEASA
Arrow acquires two Asia-Pacific distributors: Excel Tech, Inc.and Eteq Components Pte Ltd.
2009
Arrow named again to FORTUNE's Most Admired Companies
Michael J. Long named Chief Executive Officer
Peter Kong named President of Global Components
Arrow ECS' Andy Bryant Ranks Among 'Top 25 Channel Sales Leaders of 2009' by CRN
Arrow announced in December an agreement to acquire A.E. Petsche Company, a leading provider of interconnect products, including specialty wire, cable and harness management solutions, to the aerospace and defense markets.
December 31 Mike Long became Chairman of Arrow Electronics, Inc.
