Wikipedia

Future Electronics

Future Electronics Inc. is a distributor of electronic and electro-mechanical components headquartered in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada.

Future Electronics Inc.
Company type
Private Subsidiary
IndustryElectronics
Founded1968; 58 years ago (1968)
FounderRobert G. Miller
FateAcquired in 2024 by WT Microelectronics of Taiwan
HeadquartersPointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada
Number of locations
170 offices in 44 countries
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Omar Baig-Mirza (President)[1]
RevenueUS$5 billion (2014)[2]
Number of employees
5,200 (2023)[3]
Websitefutureelectronics.com

Until its acquisition in 2024, Future Electronics was one of Quebec's largest privately owned companies[4] and is one of the world's largest electronics distributors.[5][needs update] It operates in 170 locations in 44 countries around the world.[6]

The company follows a business model that emphasizes zero debt and the willingness to buy and hold inventories, allowing the company to maintain positive relationship with component suppliers.[2] In 2014, its revenues were $5 billion.[2]

History

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Future Electronics was founded in November 1968 when Robert Miller left his job in electronics distribution to form a new company. Alongside his business partner, Eli Manis, Miller set up an office in Montreal and began a distribution operation. In 1972, the pair opened an office in Boston, Massachusetts.[7]

Miller became the sole owner of the company after he bought Manis out for $500,000 in 1976.[8] By 1988, an office in Huntsville, Alabama had opened its doors, and Future Electronics was a major distributor in the United States.

In 1999, the company was raided by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a fraud probe into the company.[9][10] U.S. Department of Justice with the Central Authority of Canada suspected Future Electronics of defrauding TI, Motorola, Analog Devices and other U.S.-based companies, by falsely reporting to Texas Instruments and others the amount of their products that FEC sells.[11] In 2002, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced they would not pursue charges.[9]

In February 2023, its founder ceased to be chairman and CEO amid allegations that he solicited multiple underage girls for sex.[12][3] He was arrested in May 2024 and charged with 24 sexual offences, including sexual exploitation of minors.[13] Miller pleaded not guilty to the charges.[14] He was later held to be medically unfit to stand trial.[14]

In late 2023, Taiwanese company WT Microelectronics agreed to buy Future from Miller.[12][3] The US$3.8 billion deal completed on April 2, 2024.[15]

Leadership history

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Chief Executive Officers of Future include:

  • Robert Gerald Miller (1968–2023)
  • Omar Baig-Mirza (2023–present)

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Future Electronics Announces New Executive Team" (Press release). 8 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Dolan, Kerry A. (31 March 2014). "Press-Shy Canadian Electronics Billionaire Robert Miller Breaks His Silence". Forbes. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Dion, Matthieu (September 14, 2023). "Taiwan's WT Buys Future Electronics for $3.8 Billion Amid Probe of Founder". Bloomberg News.
  4. ↑ "DeSoto lands electronics warehouse - Memphis Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. 2002-10-27. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  5. ↑ "2021 Top 50 Electronics Distributors List". sourcetoday.com. Retrieved 2013-09-04. [dead link]
  6. ↑ Caporicci, Claudio. "Future Electronics President Robert Miller Congratulates Austria Office on Their 20th Anniversary". PR.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Future Electronics Company History". Zippia. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  8. ↑ "Robert G. Miller". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  9. 1 2 McIntosh, Andrew (2010-07-30). "Billionaire in messy, secretive divorce". North Bay Nugget. QMI Agency. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-11-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Montreal's reclusive billionaire". National Post. Toronto, Ontario. Financial Post. 1999-05-15. p. 68. Retrieved 2023-11-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ EETimes (1999-11-12). "U.S. government outlines case against Future Electronics". EE Times. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  12. 1 2 "Quebec billionaire accused of paying minors for sex to sell Future Electronics for $5B". CBC.ca. The Canadian Press. September 14, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Sex crime case of Montreal billionaire Robert Miller to return to court in October". 3 July 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Robert Miller, billionaire accused of sex crimes, unfit to stand trial, judge rules". CBC News. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "WT Microelectronics Completes Acquisition of Future Electronics". Future Electronics. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
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