Donald Macpherson

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, W. W. Grainger

Search every verified Donald Macpherson interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. At the World Economy Summit in April 2025, D.G. Macpherson discussed corporate culture and the economic environment. He stated that W.W. Grainger's focus during tariff discussions is on protecting customer service and maintaining an engaged team, noting the company has invested heavily in product information to understand supply sources and cost structures. Macpherson also addressed workforce challenges, saying the U.S. has a declining birth rate and an immigration policy that is "not very well founded," and argued for policies that involve more people in the economy. On workplace culture, Macpherson described practices such as sending out regular video updates to the field organization and requiring supervisors to hold pulse meetings with their teams. He said that creating an environment where people understand the company's mission helps retain employees, and that he does not believe generational differences in the workforce are as significant as often assumed. He noted that W.W. Grainger is a major technology employer and that connecting younger hires to the organization's purpose has been important.