 |
Driven by DCKAPAuthor: DCKAP
Conversations with industry experts, tech leaders and masters in e-commerce that reveal the secrets of their success, and the most important lessons they learned while creating an impact with their business. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Why This CEO Chose an ESOP Over Private Equity | JD Ewing of COE Distributing
Episode 101
Thursday, 30 April, 2026
Why would a successful CEO choose an ESOP over private equity? In this episode of Driven by DCKAP, JD Ewing — CEO of COE Distributing — shares why he chose an employee ownership model over a private equity exit, and what that decision means for the future of his business and profitability.But the ESOP decision is only part of the story. JD took over his family's wholesale distribution business at 19 years old with just $225,000 in revenue, built it into a multimillion dollar company, sold it — and then watched the acquiring company go bankrupt. So he started over from scratch, this time alongside his wife Melanie. Today, COE Distributing stands as one of the most profitable independent office furniture distributors in the US — built twice, and better for it.
