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New York (CNN Business) - A senior executive at Lowe's apologized Tuesday after saying that a DeWalt power drill was perfect for "Hispanic professionals with smaller hands."
“This is perfect for them. Lifetime warranty on this. What more could you ask for? ”Said Joe McFarland, executive vice president of Lowe's stores, in a corporate video broadcast to store employees on Monday. The Washington Post reported for the first time about the video.
McFarland apologized after employees criticized his comments online, saying they were offensive.
"I regret a careless and ignorant comment I made yesterday during a transmission for associates," he said in a statement issued by the company. He added that he assumed full responsibility and that he will spend "time in the next few days and weeks with our associates, customers and business leaders to learn and grow from this moment."
McFarland joined Lowe's last year from JCPenney, where he oversaw that company's stores, operations and merchandise strategies. He previously worked at Home Depot.
Lowe's did not say if the executive would face consequences for the comments.
The company operates more than 1,700 stores in the United States. Until February 1, he employed approximately 190,000 full-time and 110,000 part-time workers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.