Ward H. Brown, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, To Retire from OMNIA Partners

Ward Brown

FRANKLIN, TN – September 22, 2020 – OMNIA Partners today announced that Ward H. Brown, the company’s co-founder, and Chief Operating Officer, has decided to retire effective December 31, 2020.

Brown, along with Todd Abner, founded OMNIA Partners in 2001. The company has grown to be one of the largest, most influential cooperative/group purchasing organizations in the nation. Brown has overseen the critical operations and management processes, including account management, contract management, partner development and sales operations. In his tenure as COO, Brown led the company through several successful integrations of strategically acquired companies.

Abner and Brown represent one of Nashville’s most successful entrepreneurial partnerships and a 30-year business relationship that dates to the early ‘90s when they both began their careers at Ernst & Young. During this time, they have successfully started companies that today are pillars in the Nashville landscape. The two, taking a page from their days as leaders at HCA, have successfully recapitalized OMNIA Partners multiple times since its founding.

“After thirty years of partnership and friendship with Ward, twenty of those leading and growing OMNIA Partners, it is with mixed emotions that his retirement is now announced. Ward’s business acumen and ability to translate vision to operational efficiency is exemplary,” said Todd Abner, President and CEO of OMNIA Partners. “He and I have worked tirelessly to take what was a concept 20 years ago and build it into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. He will definitely be missed.”

Brown will continue as a member of OMNIA Partners board of directors.

Abner has named Kevin Heath, former Chief Procurement Officer for Georgia Pacific as the Chief Operating Officer for OMNIA Partners effective January 1, 2021.

About OMNIA Partners

Shaping the future of procurement through power, access, and trust. OMNIA Partners is the largest and most experienced purchasing organization for public and private sector procurement. Its immense purchasing power and industry-leading suppliers have produced an extensive portfolio of procurement solutions and partnerships, making OMNIA Partners the most valued and trusted resource for organizations nationwide. To learn more about OMNIA Partners, visit www.omniapartners.com.