W.W. Grainger, Inc., a broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products to businesses and institutions, announced that Michael Ali has joined the company as senior vice president and CIO.

With a responsibility to contribute toward its worldwide growth, Ali brings experience in information technology and a global perspective to Grainger. Prior to this move, he was senior vice president of the application services and project management office at US Foods. Before that Ali was CIO at Harman, a provider of audio and infotainment systems, and CIO at U.K.-based Jaguar Land Rover.

Ali graduated from Princeton in 1983 with a BSE in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He went on to earn an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.