Vann’s welcomed its new CEO, Greg Regelbrugge, on Monday morning.
Regelbrugge addressed employees and explained the direction the electronics and appliance company will be taking under new ownership.
All five locations in Montana will remain open for business, alongside the ON Store located in Southgate Mall in Missoula, according to Regelbrugge. The online storefront, Vanns.com, will continue to ship products across the U.S., but Regelbrugge emphasized that company focus would be on its Montana customer base.
“I want to focus on Montana,” Regelbrugge said in a statement. “I don’t want to be everything to everyone.”
Regelbrugge assured employees that the company will remain locally focused. As one of the owners, he will be living in Montana.
“One of the people who really helped me want to buy the company was Pete Vann,” said Regelbrugge. “Pete Vann did one heckuva job building a great company with a great reputation. I will do my best to honor that reputation.”
Regelbrugge is the former vice president of accounts with Panasonic. He joins Vann’s after an acquisition by McMagic Partners LP, part of the Khalidi Group. Vann’s was acquired by McMagic in October after bankruptcy proceedings that began in August.
Vann’s Acquisition, LLC., formerly Vann’s, Inc., is an audio, video and appliance specialist based in Missoula. It has been serving Montana since 1961, and consists of five retail stores, including one in Evergreen.