EXHIBIT 99.1
                      CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of MSC Industrial Direct
Co., Inc. (the "Company") for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2002 as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Mitchell Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:


         (1)      the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2)      the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.


By: /s/ Mitchell Jacobson
    ------------------------------
    Name: Mitchell Jacobson
    Chief Executive Officer
    January 8, 2003