VERNON HILLS, Ill. – August 31, 2009 – CDW Corporation, a leading provider of technology products and services to business, government and education, announced today that Thomas E. Richards will join the company as president and chief operating officer.

Richards comes to CDW from his role as chief operating officer for Qwest Communications, a $13.5 billion telecommunications company based in Denver. At CDW, Richards will be a member of the company's Executive Committee and oversee sales, advanced technology services, marketing, product & partner management, and e-commerce. Richards will join CDW on September 21, 2009, and he will report to John A. Edwardson, CDW's chairman and chief executive officer.

"I am excited to welcome Tom Richards to CDW. He has a proven track record of driving profitable sales as well as broad experience in marketing and advanced technology," Edwardson said. "His leadership style is a perfect fit for our coworker-centric culture. I am confident Tom will play an important role in helping us achieve our goals now and in the future."

"CDW is the best in its industry, and I am looking forward to becoming part of this terrific team," Richards said. "Over the years, CDW has become known for industry leadership, innovation and success, and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute to this ongoing legacy of excellence."

Prior to serving as Qwest's COO, Richards served as executive vice president of the company's Business Markets Group, a $4 billion unit that designs, installs and maintains information service networks and solutions for small, medium and large companies and the Federal government. Before joining Qwest, Richards was chairman, president and chief executive officer of Clear Communications Corporation, a supplier of optical and digital network management software. He also served as Executive Vice President of Ameritech Corporation, where he was responsible for sales, marketing and customer service for seven of Ameritech’s business units. In addition, Richards has held several senior sales and marketing roles with Bell Atlantic. Tom holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.S. in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About CDW
CDW is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government and education. Ranked No. 34 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies, CDW features dedicated account managers who help customers choose the right technology products and services to meet their needs. The company's technology specialists offer expertise in designing customized solutions, while its advanced technology engineers can assist customers with the implementation and long-term management of those solutions. Areas of focus include notebooks, desktops, printers, servers and storage, unified communications, security, wireless, power and cooling, networking, software licensing and mobility solutions.

CDW was founded in 1984 and as of June 30, 2009 employed approximately 6,250 coworkers. In 2008, the company generated sales of $8.1 billion. For more information, visit CDW.com.