Editor’s Note: This exclusive interview with Rob Aarnes of ADI follows Commercial Integrator’s previous coverage of ADI’s spinoff from Resideo.
On Aug. 4, Rob Aarnes, CEO of ADI Global Distribution Inc., rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange as ADI officially began trading under the ticker symbol ADIG. This moment marked the completion of ADI’s spinoff from Resideo Technologies.
Resideo shareholders received one share of ADI common stock for every two shares of Resideo stock they held as of the July 20, 2026, record date. Meanwhile, Resideo continues trading separately on the NYSE under the ticker REZI.
ADI is Now a Pure-Play Global Specialty Distributor
ADI now functions as a pure-play global specialty distributor of professionally installed low-voltage products serving residential and commercial markets, with $4.8 billion in 2025 revenue, about 4,100 employees and nearly 200 store locations worldwide.
But for the integrator community, that headline news is really just the beginning of the story.
What does ADI’s new status as a pure-play company actually change? What are the implications for security, residential AV, fire/life safety, datacomm and pro AV customers who rely on ADI every day? To find out, Commercial Integrator sat down with Aarnes for an in-depth conversation.
Exclusive Interview with Rob Aarnes on ADI Spinoff
In this exclusive Q&A, Aarnes discusses what the bell-ringing moment meant to him and ADI’s more than 4,000 team members, how corporate independence will sharpen the company’s focus and investment decisions, and why he’s telling customers it’s “business as usual” when it comes to pricing, inventory and their local store relationships.
Aarnes also digs into where ADI sees the strongest growth ahead — from its core categories to emerging demand in datacomm and pro AV — and how the company plans to help integrators navigate the growing convergence of security, AV, networking and communications.
Commercial Integrator: On Aug. 4, 2026, you rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange as ADI began trading under the ticker symbol ADIG. What was going through your mind in that moment, and what did it mean for you and the team to mark the completion of the spinoff in that way?
Rob Aarnes: Ringing the opening bell was an incredible moment, but what stood out most to me was what it represented. Becoming an independent public company is the result of years of hard work across our organization and the dedication of more than 4,000 team members around the world.
The Aug. 4 bell-ringing at the New York Stock Exchange was a momentous occasion for the entire ADI team. Photo courtesy of ADI.
It’s a milestone that has been a long time in the making. As I stood on that podium, I couldn’t help but think about the many people across ADI who helped us get there and the work that went into preparing the business for this next chapter.
Standing on that podium, I felt an enormous sense of pride and gratitude. While the bell-ringing happened in New York, it really belonged to every ADI team member who helped us reach this milestone and every customer and supplier who has been part of our journey.
The listing was an important milestone, but it’s not the destination. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for ADI, one where we’re fully focused on building on our leadership position and creating even more value for our customers, suppliers and shareholders.
Commercial Integrator: Now that the ADI spinoff as a standalone public company is complete, how do you expect that independence to change the way you make decisions and invest, and what should integrators expect to feel in their day-to-day dealings with ADI?
Rob Aarnes: The biggest advantage of independence is focus. Every decision we make is now centered on ADI, our customers, our suppliers and the markets we serve.
For integrators, the most important thing is that the relationship they have with ADI today doesn’t change. They will continue working with the same teams, accessing the same products and receiving the same support they rely on.
What they should see over time is an acceleration of our ability to invest in areas that matter most to them, including digital capabilities, inventory, portfolio of distributed and exclusive brands, value-added services, and technical expertise. Independence gives us greater agility to respond to customer needs and pursue opportunities that help our customers grow their businesses.
Commercial Integrator: As an independent company, how does ADI plan to protect and deepen inventory across core categories like security, residential AV and fire/life safety?
Rob Aarnes: Our core categories remain the foundation of ADI’s business and a key part of our growth strategy.
We have long-standing relationships with leading suppliers, a broad product portfolio and a global distribution network that gives us strong access to inventory across the categories our customers depend on most. As an independent company, we’re committed to continuing to invest in those relationships and ensuring we maintain the product availability and category expertise customers expect from ADI.
At the same time, we’ll continue expanding our assortment, growing our exclusive brands portfolio and leveraging data and operational capabilities to better anticipate customer demand and position inventory where it’s needed most.
Commercial Integrator: Data communications and pro AV are growing positions for ADI. Where do you see the strongest demand from integrators in those categories, and how are you building out product availability to meet it?
Rob Aarnes: Data communications and pro AV represent growth opportunities for ADI and our customers, and we’ve made targeted investments to strengthen our capabilities, expand our product offering and support customers as these markets continue to evolve.
In datacomm, we’re seeing continued demand for network infrastructure and connectivity solutions across commercial and residential environments. We’re also seeing growth driven by investments in data centers and the increasing need for the networks that support connected devices, cloud applications and emerging technologies.
In pro AV, we’re seeing strong momentum around collaboration spaces, digital signage and integrated commercial AV solutions. Customers are increasingly looking for partners that can provide both a broad product portfolio and the technical expertise to support more sophisticated projects.
To support growth in both categories, we’re continuing to expand our supplier partnerships, product assortment, inventory position and technical resources. As customer needs evolve, we’re also broadening the services and support we provide, from design and programming assistance to in-field technical support. Our goal is to give customers access to the products, expertise and support they need through one trusted partner.
Commercial Integrator: Support and service are a big part of why integrators choose you. What stays the same for ADI customers through the spinoff transition, and where do you see room to raise the bar?
According to Rob Aarnes, customers should continue to expect the same ADI experience: trusted support, local teams and dedication to success. Photo courtesy of ADI.
Rob Aarnes: What stays the same is the foundation of ADI: our people, our customer relationships, our local presence, our product expertise and our commitment to service.
Customers should continue to expect the same trusted support, the same local teams, and the same dedication to helping them succeed. That has not changed.
Where we see opportunity is continuing to enhance the overall customer experience. That includes investing in digital tools, training, technical support, value-added services and making it even easier for customers to do business with us across all channels. We never view service as something that’s finished. It’s an area where we’re always looking to improve.
Commercial Integrator: Integrators are increasingly working across security, AV, networking and communications on a single job. How does ADI plan to help them navigate that convergence, from product selection to technical support?
Rob Aarnes: Convergence is one of the biggest trends shaping our industry today, and it’s creating new opportunities for integrators to expand their capabilities and grow their businesses.
ADI is uniquely positioned because of the breadth of our portfolio across security, fire/life safety, residential and commercial AV, networking and communications, and more. Our role is to help customers bring those technologies together successfully.
That means providing access to the right products, knowledgeable sales support, training programs, technical expertise and supplier relationships that help customers design and deploy complete solutions. We want to be more than a distributor. We want to be a trusted business partner that helps customers win.
Commercial Integrator: If an integrator is wondering whether this spinoff affects pricing, availability or the relationship they’ve built with their local ADI store location, what would you tell them?
Rob Aarnes: I’d tell them that it’s business as usual.
The same teams are serving customers. The same local stores are supporting them. And the same products, services and supplier relationships remain in place.
Our focus throughout this transition has been ensuring continuity for customers, and that’s exactly what they should expect. If anything, becoming an independent company strengthens our ability to focus on serving integrators and investing in areas that support their long-term success
Commercial Integrator: Looking ahead from the spinoff this month, what are you most excited to build for the integration community as an independent ADI?
Rob Aarnes: What excites me most is the opportunity to invest in the future alongside our customers.
ADI already has a strong foundation, including leading positions in our core markets, deep supplier relationships, a global footprint and an industry-leading omnichannel platform. As an independent company, we can build on those strengths with even greater focus.
We’re investing in digital capabilities, category expansion, exclusive brands, value-added services and operational excellence to help customers grow faster and operate more efficiently.
Ultimately, our goal is simple: to be the indispensable partner of choice for integrators and to help them succeed in a rapidly changing market.
