RETAILOBSERVER.COM SEPTEMBER 2018
40
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION'S
SAM ABDELNOUR
ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
S
am Abdelnour has announced his upcoming retirement
from Whirlpool Corporation. He will stay on through
October to assist in the transition process. David
Cichocki, currently general manager of key accounts, has been
named Abdelnour's successor.
"I've been blessed with an amazing 40-year career at the best
company in the world," said Abdelnour. "I've come full circle,
having had the privilege to lead the U.S. sales team for the past
14 years, and I can't say enough about the people I've been
surrounded with during this time. We have a sales force that's
second to none. This gives me confidence to pass the baton to
the next generation."
During Abdelnour's tenure, Whirlpool grew from the fourth-
largest appliance manufacturer to the largest. Abdelnour launched
Whirlpool Corporation's "Real Whirled" sales training program,
which to date has transformed more than 600 employees into the
best-trained appliance salespeople for the company. Many of
these salespeople have been honored for their excellence at
the annual Winner's Circle Sales Competition event, another of
Abdelnour's signature development programs.
"Sam's commitment to Whirlpool goes well beyond his years
of service," said Joe Liotine, head of Whirlpool North America.
"He has shown a relentless drive to succeed by developing his
people, forging deep relationships with our customers, managing
through an ever-changing, complex retail environment, and
championing our brands with the trade. If there ever was an icon
of the appliance industry, it's Sam Abdelnour. I wish him all the
best in his well-deserved retirement."
Abdelnour joined Whirlpool in 1978 at the age of 23, and his
first assignment at the company was as a sales account manager
based in California. He eventually broadened his experience with
successful stints in category marketing and merchandising
before returning home to the U.S. sales organization in 1996.
"I'm excited about the next chapter of my life, especially to
spend more time with my family, which now includes two
grandsons," said Abdelnour.
SAM AB DE LNOU R, VICE PR ESI DE NT OF NORTH AM E R ICAN
SALES, HAS AN NOU NCE D H IS R ETI R E M E NT FROM
WH I R LPOOL COR PORATION AFTE R 40 YEARS OF SE RVICE
R E T I R E M E N T [ N E W S ]
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