ARLINGTON, VA -- The pending merger of the National Electronics Distributors Association and the Electronic Components Association is on track to take place in January, the trade groups said.

In September their respective boards approved the consolidation of the two associations into a single entity called the Electronics Components Industry Association (ECIA). The mission of the new association will be to promote and improve the business environment for the authorized sellers of electronics components. ECIA will represent manufacturers, independent field sales representatives and distributors of electronics components, and lead efforts on manufacturing practices, standards, advocacy and statistics.

Robin Gray, Jr., acting NEDA executive vice president, will become president and chief executive of ECIA, and ECA president Bob Willis will be the chief technical officer.