January 28, 2009

S.P. Richards Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Genuine Parts Company (GPC:NYSE) and leading wholesale distributor of business and office supplies, announced today...

Jack Reagan named S.P. Richards Vice President, Merchandising

Jack Reagan has joined S.P. Richards Company in the role of Vice President, Merchandising where he will assume category management responsibility for the company’s Office Supplies and Furniture segments. Reagan was formerly Executive Vice President of Action Emco, and concurrently held the position of President of Advantage Marketing Wholesalers. Prior to Action Emco, Reagan held senior merchandising and purchasing roles at BT Office Products and Harry Strauss & Sons.

Senior Vice President, Merchandising Steve Lynn commented on the addition of Reagan to the S.P. Richards Company management team, "We’re extremely pleased to have an executive of the caliber of Jack Reagan join our team. He brings an incredible amount of experience and talent to the role. Jack has an in-depth understanding of our customers and is well respected within the vendor community."

Reagan added "I’m very excited about being part of the SPR team and working with our vendors and customers on joint initiatives to grow our mutual sales."

Reagan is a graduate of Rutgers University where he earned degrees in Economics and English.

S.P. Richards Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Genuine Parts Company (GPC: NYSE), distributes a wide spectrum of business products to office products resellers throughout the U.S. and Canada. These products include consumable office supplies, office furniture, computer supplies, consumer electronics, cleaning and breakroom supplies from all of the major industry manufacturers. S.P. Richards Company markets several private label lines under the brand names of Lorell, Integra, Sparco, Genuine Joe, Nature Saver, Compucessory, and Elite Image. The company operates 45 Distribution Centers in the United States and Canada.

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S. and Canada through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products nationwide in the U.S. and in Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Genuine Parts Company had 2007 revenues of $10.8 billion.