<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 24.1(A)
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned, a director and/or
officer of Rexel, Inc. (the "Corporation"), does hereby constitute and appoint
Jon O. Fullerton, Steven M. Hitt and Allan M. Gonopolsky, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorney or attorneys to execute in his name, place and stead in
such capacity or capacities (whether on behalf of the Corporation, or as a
director and/or officer of the Corporation, or otherwise), any and all
instruments which said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable in
order to enable the Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
in respect thereof, pertaining to annual reports of the Corporation on Form 10-K
and amendments thereof, including without limitation, power and authority to
sign his name (whether on behalf of the Corporation, or as a director and/or
officer of the Corporation, or by attesting the seal of the Corporation, or
otherwise) to any such annual reports on Form 10-K, and any amendments thereof,
and other documents in connection therewith, and to file any of the
aforementioned documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of
said attorneys to have full power and authority to do and perform in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned, every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to
be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person.
 
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his name hereto on the date
set opposite his name.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
            Dated: March 25, 1997                            /s/Alain Redheuil
                                                -------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 24.1(B)
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned, a director and/or
officer of Rexel, Inc. (the "Corporation"), does hereby constitute and appoint
Jon O. Fullerton, Steven M. Hitt and Allan M. Gonopolsky, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorney or attorneys to execute in his name, place and stead in
such capacity or capacities (whether on behalf of the Corporation, or as a
director and/or officer of the Corporation, or otherwise), any and all
instruments which said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable in
order to enable the Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
in respect thereof, pertaining to annual reports of the Corporation on Form 10-K
and amendments thereof, including without limitation, power and authority to
sign his name (whether on behalf of the Corporation, or as a director and/or
officer of the Corporation, or by attesting the seal of the Corporation, or
otherwise) to any such annual reports on Form 10-K, and any amendments thereof,
and other documents in connection therewith, and to file any of the
aforementioned documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of
said attorneys to have full power and authority to do and perform in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned, every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to
be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person.
 
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his name hereto on the date
set opposite his name.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
            Dated: March 25, 1997                          /s/ Jon O. Fullerton
                                                -------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 24.1(C)
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned, a director and/or
officer of Rexel, Inc. (the "Corporation"), does hereby constitute and appoint
Jon O. Fullerton, Steven M. Hitt and Allan M. Gonopolsky, and each of them, his
true and lawful attorney or attorneys to execute in his name, place and stead in
such capacity or capacities (whether on behalf of the Corporation, or as a
director and/or officer of the Corporation, or otherwise), any and all
instruments which said attorney or attorneys may deem necessary or advisable in
order to enable the Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission
in respect thereof, pertaining to annual reports of the Corporation on Form 10-K
and amendments thereof, including without limitation, power and authority to
sign his name (whether on behalf of the Corporation, or as a director and/or
officer of the Corporation, or by attesting the seal of the Corporation, or
otherwise) to any such annual reports on Form 10-K, and any amendments thereof,
and other documents in connection therewith, and to file any of the
aforementioned documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of
said attorneys to have full power and authority to do and perform in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned, every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to
be done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person.
 
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his name hereto on the date
set opposite his name.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
            Dated: March 25, 1997                           /s/ Steven M. Hitt
                                                -------------------------------------------
</TABLE>