Thomas E. Richards served as the CEO of CDW Corporation from October 1, 2011, until December 31, 2018. He stepped into the role after being the President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Richards has a solid educational background,...

Thomas E. Richards served as the CEO of CDW Corporation from October 1, 2011, until December 31, 2018. He stepped into the role after being the President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Richards has a solid educational background, holding a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master's degree in Management from MIT. His career includes significant experience at Qwest Communications, where he was top brass before moving to CDW. Under his leadership, CDW focused on driving growth and achieving high performance, which is reflected in the performance-based bonuses he earned during his time there. In 2018, Richards earned a total compensation of $2.77 million, primarily through his salary and performance bonuses, showing a strong alignment with company success. Richards also had notable holdings in the company, reaching a peak value of over $79 million at one point. He actively managed his investments, which fluctuated significantly during his tenure. After stepping down, he remained with CDW as Executive Chairman until December 2019, marking a smooth succession plan within the company.