Maccabeus Top AutoMobility Stories – February 2023

Self-driving tech firm Aurora hires its first president

Self-driving technology firm Aurora Innovation Inc. appointed Ossa Fisher as its first president. The move is part of the company’s efforts to prepare for a commercial launch of autonomous trucks. Fisher joins Aurora from Istation, an education technology company based in Dallas. She oversaw engineering, product, sales and marketing divisions in her role as Istation’s president and COO, a position she held since 2019. At Aurora, Fisher will play a central role in scaling operations and maintaining relationships with key partners such as FedEx Corp., Uber Freight and Werner as well as truckmakers such as PACCAR and Volvo. She will stay in Dallas, a growing operational hub for the company. Aurora had fewer than 20 employees there at the end of 2020, but that number rose to nearly 120 by the end of 2022, according to a company spokesman. That’s a small fraction of the company’s overall 1,600 employees, currently spread out over the country in Mountain View, Calif.; Pittsburgh; San Francisco; Seattle; Bozeman, Mont.; Detroit; and Colorado. Aurora intends to commercially launch self-driving trucks without human safety drivers aboard in 2024. While the company has not specified which route will be used for the inaugural operations, it currently hauls goods while testing on routes in Texas that connect a terminal in the Dallas suburb of Palmer with Houston, and along a separate route that links Fort Worth and El Paso. Born in Sweden, Fisher moved to the U.S. in 1981 at the age of 4. Before Istation, she held positions at Goldman Sachs and consulting firm Bain & Co.   Source: Automotive News

GM hires former Tesla exec to head mergers and acquisitions

General Motors said it has hired former Tesla Inc. executive Zach Kirkman as vice president of corporate development and global mergers and acquisitions. GM’s CFO Paul Jacobson announced the hiring in a LinkedIn post Monday. Kirkman was head of mergers and acquisitions for Tesla, where he had worked since 2016, according to his LinkedIn page. He previously spent six years in finance and corporate development at Apple Inc. He replaces Greg Hagy, who retired from GM several months ago, a spokesperson said. Kirkman reports to GM North America CFO John Stapleton. Kirkman is charged with helping accelerate GM’s “future and growth strategy” for electric vehicles, Jacobson wrote. “He brings an extensive background assessing and executing M&A, evaluating and managing minority investments, evaluating unique supply chain situations, as well as leading special projects,” Jacobson wrote, noting that Kirkman’s first car was a 1969 Buick Wildcat convertible that he and his father restored. Kirkman’s hiring comes three months after GM added former Tesla sales chief Jon McNeill to its board. Ford Motor Co. also recently pulled executive talent from Tesla and Apple with the hiring of Alan Clarke and Doug Field. GM is in the midst of an effort begun a year ago to hire more than 8,000 people to work in EV, software, autonomous technology and fuel cell development. The automaker has committed $35 billion to AVs and EVs through 2025 and is targeting a zero-emission light-vehicle lineup by 2035.   Source: Automotive News

Stoneridge Names New President and CEO

Stoneridge Inc. has announced the appointment of Jim Zizelman as president and CEO and member of the Stoneridge board of directors, effective immediately. Stoneridge’s current president and CEO, Jon DeGaynor, has elected to resign from the company and its board of directors for personal reasons. Bill Lasky, chairman of Stoneridge’s board of directors, commented, “Jim joined Stoneridge in 2020 as president of the Control Devices division and has played an integral role in developing and executing on the strategic priorities, product development and technical vision for both Control Devices and Stoneridge more broadly. Jim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we are fortunate to have a proven business leader and experienced executive step into the CEO role. The Board has the utmost confidence in the team’s ability to advance Stoneridge’s strategic priorities under Jim’s leadership.” “Jon has brought extraordinary energy and dedication to his role as president and CEO of Stoneridge. During his tenure, Stoneridge has transformed its global portfolio, divested non-core businesses, and invested in key technologies, aligning the company with the megatrends in the transportation industry. The board thanks him for his time at Stoneridge and wishes him well in the future,” continued Lasky. Prior to joining Stoneridge, Zizelman was the vice president of engineering and program management for Aptiv, where he had overarching responsibility for the engineering function and supported the company’s transition from Delphi. He spent more than 20 years leading a variety of technical and business teams for the Powertrain and Electronics divisions driving innovation, development and execution of all active safety, automated driving, and infotainment programs. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Zizelman said, “I look forward to working closely with the board, our senior leadership team, and our dedicated global teams. It has been a privilege working with Jon during Stoneridge’s transformation and I look forward to building on our success as we continue to execute on our long-term strategy. Over the coming months, my focus will be on executing our strategic plan and ensuring a seamless transition for our customers, employees, and stakeholders.” Rajaey Kased, most recently the vice president of sales and product line management for the Control Devices division, has been appointed president of the Control Devices division. During his three-year tenure with Stoneridge, Kased has demonstrated the leadership and strategic thinking that has helped advance the division’s priorities. He brings 18 years of Tier 1 automotive business acumen and experience in engineering, strategy and sales. Kased has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University at Buffalo and a master’s in business administration from the University of Rochester.   Source: Aftermarket News

Greg Havekost Named Alliance Business Intelligence Coordinator

The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. announced the promotion of Greg Havekost to Business Intelligence Coordinator, effective as of Jan. 1, 2023. In this role, Havekost will play a key role in the development of Alliance data solutions and their deployment and usage for Alliance shareholder members. “Greg has been a valuable member of the Alliance Information Technology team and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do in this new role,” said Ethan Love, business intelligence and data services manager at the Alliance. “His job duties will continue to expand in business intelligence and will play a key role in the continued efforts to enhance the Alliance Technology Suite.” In this role, Havekost works with the Alliance Data Warehouse and the Inventory Optimization Tool improving software communications and working to manage the efficiency and processes for product inventory and deployment. Havekost is also the primary point of contact for interchange data which is vital to the growth of the Alliance Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Duty program, the company says. “Greg Havekost has continued to show growth and take on new responsibilities in his career at the Alliance,” said Dale E. Hopkins, CIO and VP of IT at the Alliance. “Greg continues to come up with new ideas to enhance the Alliance Business Intelligence solution and is now in a role to expand our support and data analytics offerings to our shareholder members and their sales teams.”   Source: Aftermarket News

JNPSoft OptiCat Names Director of Sales

JNPSoft OptiCat has announced Mark Nasra will be joining the company as director of sales for North America. With more than 20 years of automotive experience, Mark will continue to provide exceptional service and innovative tools to help the company’s customers sell more parts. “We are confident that Mark will use his expertise to continue to build our leadership position in serving the automotive aftermarket with all their data needs, said Nat Di Censo, COO at JNPSoft OptiCat. “I’m excited to be joining the JNPSoft Opticat team,” said Mark Nasra, director of sales for North America.  “I look forward to helping provide industry leading solutions to our customers.”   Source: Aftermarket News

Bridgestone Creates New Philanthropic Position

Bridgestone named Wade Munday as its new director of corporate philanthropy and social impact. In this newly created position, he will be responsible for advancing and directing the strategy and execution of philanthropic and social programs at Bridgestone that align with the company’s mission and values, including sustainability, DE&I and stakeholder engagement. Munday will manage the operations of the Bridgestone Americas trust fund, corporate philanthropy and workplace giving. Munday joins Bridgestone with 15 years of experience working with nonprofits, corporate trusts and government-affiliated organizations, the company says.   Source: Aftermarket News

Electrify America names Robert Barrosa next CEO; Palazzo to take EV post at VW

Electrify America has tapped Robert Barrosa, who leads the charging company’s infrastructure development and product planning, as its next president and CEO. Current president and CEO Giovanni Palazzo will become chairman of Electrify America’s board and global senior vice president of charging and energy for parent company Volkswagen Group. Palazzo, 48, will take his chairman post Feb. 15 and begin his job at Volkswagen July 1. Barrosa, 48, will assume his role as Electrify America president and CEO June 1, the company said in a statement Monday. Barrosa is the senior director of sales, business development and marketing for Electrify America. He leads business and infrastructure development, product planning, business partnerships, marketing and e-commerce. Barrosa also manages Electrify America’s home, commercial and energy services. He has been with the company since 2018, focusing on technology, energy management, product planning and infrastructure development. Barrosa has been in the EV infrastructure space for more than 16 years, with posts at EVgo, NRG Energy and AeroVironment. Barrosa’s “background as an electric vehicle charging engineer, combined with his strategic business approach, will help us continue bringing the latest in EV charging technology to our customers,” Palazzo said in the statement. Palazzo has been president and CEO of Electrify America since 2018. He spent more than seven years at Volkswagen Group in the mobility and digital retail space. With Palazzo at the helm, Electrify America expanded to more than 800 charging stations and 3,500 chargers and established charging agreements with more than 17 EV manufacturers. The company also launched Electrify Home for residential chargers and Electrify Commercial for fleet owners and other businesses. “It’s been a privilege to work with such an incredibly talented team and to oversee the tremendous strides Electrify America has made in electric vehicle infrastructure and the promotion of EV adoption over the past several years,” Palazzo said. “We look forward to Rob Barrosa’s continued leadership as Electrify America continues to evolve and expand on our mission toward a more sustainable future.”   Source: Automotive News

Caliber Collision Promotes Todd Dillender to COO

Caliber has announced the promotion of Todd Dillender from executive vice president, operations to chief operating officer of Caliber Collision, effective immediately. In this role, Dillender will be instrumental in driving market growth while continuing to demonstrate Caliber’s purpose of Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life. Caliber saw significant growth during 2022, expanding its national footprint to more than 1,600 locations nationwide, inspiring teammates to reach their full potential, as well as continuing to deliver on the company’s mission of becoming the most trusted automotive service provider in every community it serves. Already entering 2023 with momentum, Caliber is implementing capabilities and infrastructure to continue scaling the business. Dillender’s promotion to COO of Caliber Collision aligns strategic initiatives and will support teammates’ ongoing professional development and success. Since 1992, Dillender has successfully worked in nearly every center-level position, starting out as a shop helper, then a detailer, a body tech helper, painter, service advisor and ultimately landing him in various leadership positions such as general manager and regional manager. “With more than 30 years of experience invested in this industry and our teammates’ success, Todd has all the right tools to lead our collision business as Caliber Collision’s COO,” said Mark Sanders, president and CEO of Caliber. “He’s been instrumental in our company’s strategic growth and has a strong passion for supporting our teammates, partners and communities across the country. He’s consistently demonstrated our purpose of Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life and embodies our core values.” Dillender’s broad collision repair industry experience and advancements within Caliber Collision make him well-positioned for this transition. He moved from California to Texas to take on additional leadership responsibilities, ranging from regional manager to senior vice president. In 2019, Dillender was promoted to executive vice president, operations, overseeing Caliber Collision’s west region, covering 11 states. Throughout his time as executive vice president, he’s been integral in spearheading and guiding highly strategic projects that scaled throughout the organization. In 2022, Dillender was essential in launching Caliber’s proprietary Technician Apprentice Program (TAP). TAP is open to students, veterans and others seeking a career in the auto body tech industry. All TAP apprentices receive paid, on-the-job training from senior auto body technicians who act as TAP mentors. To date, more than 1,800 apprentices and graduates are involved in the program. Dillender is also leading the charge as new technologies impact Caliber Collision. For example, he is passionate about continuing education for auto body technicians around electric vehicles. His expertise and direction helped develop a proprietary, comprehensive EV training program, ensuring each technician stays up to date with the latest EV safety and repair procedures. “This is more than a job to me. Our purpose-driven culture, our teammates and strong relationships with carrier and vendor partners is more like family,” said Dillender. “While working at Caliber, I’ve had the honor of seeing first-hand the growth of this company from six centers to more than 1,600 centers and more than 25,000 teammates. These milestones were possible because of the collaboration and shared purpose with my fellow teammates, specifically operations leaders Mitch McMaster and Paul Krauss. I’m proud to be a part of Caliber Collision, and I am confident we will continue inspiring teammates to reach their full potential and achieve Caliber Collision’s aggressive growth goals.” As the new Chief Operating Officer, Dillender will report to Sanders. McMaster and Krauss are transitioning to new leadership roles that will propel Caliber’s continued success.   Source: Aftermarket News

Ex-Ford executive appointed to BorgWarner board

BorgWarner has appointed Hau Thai-Tang, who retired last year after a long career at Ford Motor Co., to its board of directors. Thai-Tang held top roles in Ford’s product development and purchasing departments in his 34 years at the automaker. BorgWarner, in a Wednesday news release, praised Thai-Tang for developing “an industry leading product portfolio of digitally connected ICE and BEV vehicles” while at Ford. “Hau’s extensive industry experience and his forward-looking perspective around electrification transformation make him a solid complement to our board,” said Alexis Michas, BorgWarner’s non-executive chairman. At Ford, Thai-Tang served as the top supplier liaison and managed its supply chain during several major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing microchip shortage. In 2018, he was selected as an Automotive News All-Star for his work keeping F-Series pickup production from being disrupted by a supplier fire. Thai-Tang, 57,  led Ford’s product development and purchasing organizations during development of the Bronco SUV, Maverick pickup and Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. He retired as the company’s chief industrial platform officer.   Source: Automotive News

Sato plans new player formation for Team Toyota as CEO; quarterly profits rise

Just as a World Cup soccer team adjusts its player formation for a new opponent, Toyota’s recently appointed CEO Koji Sato is reordering his lineup for a challenging new era. That is the scene unfolding today at the world’s largest automaker as Sato picks a new management team before he takes the helm from current boss Akio Toyoda on April 1. “Compare it to soccer,” Toyota’s Chief Communication Officer Jun Nagata said on Thursday, while announcing quarterly financial results for Toyota Motor Corp. “The Japanese soccer team for the World Cup took different formations depending on their opponent teams, Germany or Spain,” Nagata said. “Likewise, our new management team will adopt various formations in managing the company. President Toyoda thinks the company has reached a stage where a younger team can run it in a different management style.” Toyoda, the grandson of the automaker’s founder, has led Toyota through a centralized management style that has increasingly been centered around himself as a top-down leader. But as Toyoda steps back from chairman starting April 1, he said teamwork will be key to Sato’s success. In announcing Sato’s appointment on Jan. 26, Toyoda said he had an important bit of advice for the current Lexus International chief: “Do not try to run the company on your own but as a team.” Indeed, Toyoda has big expectations for the next generation of leaders picked by Sato. “The new team under upcoming President Sato has a mission to transform Toyota into a mobility company,” Toyoda said last month in announcing the shuffle. “He has youth and like-minded colleagues. I expect this new team to go beyond the limits that I cannot break through.” Details of Sato’s new team — let alone who will be on it — are still taking shape. But at last month’s announcement, he gave a sneak peek at the big picture. “Our new team, under the theme of ‘inheritance and evolution,’ will implement product-centered and region-centered management, while valuing the philosophy of our company’s founding and will endeavor to fully redesign Toyota into a mobility company,” he said. Among Sato’s challenges will be determining just exactly what a “mobility” company is, while ramping up the Japanese automaker’s competitiveness in the global electric vehicle race. Other items on the to-do list include addressing the avalanche of change brought about by software-defined cars, autonomous driving and connectivity, and facing up to new rivals from Silicon Valley, China and beyond. Nagata said he did not know when Captain Sato would announce his team’s new formation. Just for the record, at the World Cup held late last year in Qatar, the Japan national team pulled off stunning upset victories over heavyweights Germany and Spain, winning 2-1 in both matchups, to advance into the Round of 16. There, it lost in a shootout finish to eventual third-place winner Croatia. Among other headaches facing Sato will be the ongoing global semiconductor shortage. In announcing quarterly financials, Toyota again trimmed its global production target for the current fiscal year ending March 31, this time by 100,000 vehicles, citing tight chip supplies. Toyota now expects to make 9.1 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles. The new target is down from the 9.2 million announced in November, when Toyota cut the outlook from 9.7 million. But it still represents an increase over the previous year’s 8.57 million. Toyota is triaging supply constraints by reconfiguring the vehicle specifications for chips that are in more plentiful supply and by trying to use more low-spec chips, Nagata said. Business in the crucial U.S. market has been especially hard hit by the semiconductor shortage because Toyota sells a lot of high-end, large-size vehicles here that require a lot of chips. Supply constraints and the impact of foreign exchange rates and inflation drove Toyota’s North American business to a regional operating loss in the October to December quarter. As for when chip supplies will return to normal, Nagata said: “God only knows.” Still, on a parent-company basis, Toyota reported a healthy overall profit rebound in the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31. Global operating profit expanded 22 percent to 956.6 billion yen ($7.25 billion) in the October to December quarter. Toyota’s operating profit margin shrank to 9.8 percent, from a robust 10.1 percent the year before. Toyota said net income essentially flatlined at 1.03 trillion yen ($7.81 billion), while revenue advanced 25 percent to 9.75 trillion yen ($73.94 billion). The company’s results were lifted by helpful foreign exchange rates. The Japanese yen’s steep 24 percent year-on-year loss of value against the U.S. dollar boosted quarterly operating profit by a whopping 480.0 billion yen ($3.64 billion). Global sales climbed 16 percent to 2.33 million vehicles in the three-month period. The consolidated figure covers deliveries for the Lexus and Toyota brands, as well as Daihatsu and Hino. Worldwide retail sales increased 7.9 percent to 2.72 million vehicles in the quarter. Skyrocketing raw material prices — aggravated by the Japanese yen’s decline against the U.S. dollar — took a 345.0 billion yen ($2.61 billion) bite out of quarterly operating profit. That more than wiped out gains Toyota reaped from various cost-reduction efforts.   Source: Automotive News

TIA’s Dick Gust Named to US Environmental Advisory Group

Tire Industry Association (TIA) CEO Richard “Dick” Gust has been appointed for a second time to serve on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC). U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo informed Gust of his new appointment, which took effect immediately, in a letter dated Feb. 1, 2023. The appointment will run through Aug. 12, 2024, when the committee’s current charter expires. Gust’s previous appointment to the committee began in May 2021. The committee’s role is to provide consensus advice on the development and administration of programs to expand U.S. exports of environmental technologies, goods and services, and products that comply with U.S. environmental, safety and related requirements, Raimondo said. Gust was appointed TIA CEO, the top staff position, on Jan. 1, 2022. He previously served the association as president in 2005 and was a former long-time board member. Well known in the scrap tire field, Gust joined TIA from Liberty Tire Recycling where he served as director of government affairs and president of national account sales. He also is a past president of Lakin Environmental Industries overseeing operations involving tire retreading, remanufacturing, scrap tire collections and scrap tire processing. “I am honored to again be appointed to this important committee and to represent TIA, our members and the tire recycling industry,” Gust said.   Source: Aftermarket News

Monro Appoints Hope B. Woodhouse to Board of Directors

Monro Inc., a national provider of automotive undercar repair and tire services, today announced that the company’s board of directors has appointed Hope B. Woodhouse to the board, effective immediately. Woodhouse will serve on the compensation committee and the audit committee. Monro also announced that Frederick Michael (“Mike”) Danziger has retired from the board, effective Feb. 3, 2023. “We appreciate the constructive dialogue with shareholders and are implementing changes to strengthen Monro and improve our corporate governance,” said Robert E. Mellor, chair of the board and chair of the nominating and corporate responsibility committee. “Refreshment remains a priority for our board, and we are delighted to welcome Hope as the newest addition to the Monro board. As a highly respected executive in the financial services industry with significant leadership experience and operational expertise, Hope will be an asset for our board and a valuable resource for our management team. Hope has extensive public company board experience, including on committees addressing issues such as risk, auditing, and executive compensation, and our board’s compensation and audit committees look forward to benefitting from her perspectives.” Woodhouse is an accomplished leader, who has held executive roles at a number of financial services firms, overseeing financial, operational, accounting and risk management execution. From 2005 to 2008, she served as chief operating officer (COO) and as a member of the management committee of Bridgewater Associates Inc. Between 2003 and 2005, she was president and COO of Auspex Group, L.P., and from 2000 to 2003 she was COO and a member of the management committee of Soros Fund Management LLC. Previously, she held executive leadership positions in various companies, including Tiger Management L.L.C. and Salomon Brothers Inc. “I am honored to join Monro’s board of directors at such an exciting time for the company,” said Woodhouse. “Monro is an impressive company that continues to execute on operational initiatives and extend on its proud history of delivering for its customers. I look forward to working closely with my fellow board members and the management team to leverage my expertise to build the company’s national presence and deliver sustainable growth.” “On behalf of the board, I thank Mike for his years of dedicated service to the Monro board,” said Mellor. “Among his many contributions, Mike was a member the Audit and Nominating Committees, as well as chair of the compensation committee, where he helped Monro establish and maintain strong executive compensation practices by championing ‘pay for performance’ measures.” The addition of Woodhouse is part of the board’s ongoing refreshment process. The board remains committed to its previously announced initiative to identify additional candidates who bring complementary skills and experience to the board, including experience in retail and the automotive aftermarket.   Source: Aftermarket News

BorgWarner names CEO, CFO of fuel systems, aftermarket spinoff

Parts supplier BorgWarner Inc. on Tuesday named two longtime executives to serve as CEO and CFO of the proposed spinoff of its fuel parts and aftermarket business, which will be known as Phinia Inc. Brady Ericson, the president of BorgWarner’s fuel systems and aftermarket business since March 2022, was named as CEO of the newly named spinoff. Ericson began his career with the supplier in 2000 and has held various officer roles since 2011, managing three business units and serving as BorgWarner’s chief strategy officer. Chris Gropp, the vice president of finance for the field systems and aftermarket business since October 2020, was named as CFO of Phinia. Gropp has been with BorgWarner since 2001, serving as head of finance for three of the metro Detroit supplier’s business units in that time. “They each possess a breadth of knowledge and experience that will be required to guide Phinia as an independent company and pursue its continued success,” BorgWarner CEO Frédéric Lissalde said in a statement. The spinoff, announced in December, will allow BorgWarner to focus on its growing electric vehicle business as the electrification of the auto industry picks up steam. The supplier invested $150 million into electrification R&D last year and expects to break even on that business by late this year or early 2024, CFO Kevin Nowlan said on a Feb. 9 call with investors. The spinoff, expected to be completed in late 2023, will allow for the company’s traditional combustion business to be a “product leader in fuel systems, starters, alternators and aftermarket distribution,” BorgWarner said in a news release. In December, the company said that it would also be free to “pursue growth opportunities” in alternative fuels such as hydrogen. Naming the spinoff Phinia is “an exciting next step that personifies and gives an identity to what we had referred to as ‘NewCo’, ” Lissalde said. Ericson, Phinia’s soon-to-be CEO, served in a variety of operations, manufacturing, engineering and sales roles with BorgWarner, including at locations in Europe and Asia. Before joining BorgWarner, he worked at companies including Ford Motor Co., supplier Remy International and Honeywell. Ericson earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University and a master of business administration from Duke University. “I am honored and humbled to be selected to launch and lead Phinia,” he said in a statement. “We will draw upon BorgWarner’s rich 130-year history — maintaining the strong culture of product leadership, integrity and operational excellence.” Gropp, meanwhile, has served in a variety of roles, such as plant controller, commercial controller, finance director and vice president of finance for BorgWarner businesses. She was previously an auditor for KPMG. Gropp holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Alabama. “I’m excited for the opportunity to lead Phinia, as part of Brady’s leadership team, and seek to continue the positive momentum and financial discipline, with the objective of setting us up for success as an independent entity,” she said in a statement. Last week, BorgWarner reported gross profit of $833 million on $4.1 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, up 11 percent from a year earlier. On the year, gross profit rose 7 percent to $3.1 billion on $15.8 billion in sales. Full-year sales revenue from BorgWarner’s fuel systems and aftermarket businesses rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier to $3.6 billion. BorgWarner ranks No. 15 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers, with worldwide parts sales to automakers of $14 billion in 2021.   Source: Automotive News

Biden to nominate official to head U.S. auto safety agency

The White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden plans to nominate the acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to serve in the top job. Ann Carlson, the agency’s chief counsel, was named acting head of NHTSA in September. Since then, she has overseen the agency’s safety investigations into Tesla TSLA.O as well as efforts to shrink traffic deaths and significantly boost vehicle fuel economy requirements.   Source: Automotive News

Spectra Premium Names New Canadian Sales Director

Spectra Premium Mobility Solutions (“Spectra Premium” or the “Company”) announced that Jeff Lee will take the lead of his Canadian sales aftermarket division as Director of Sales – Canada. Since joining the Spectra Premium team in 2011, Jeff has held various positions including Territory and Regional Sales Manager Ontario and Regional Sales Manager Ontario and Atlantic Canada. “Jeff’s strong performance at Spectra combined with his prior experience in sales management, B2B sales, private labelling and marketing, make him the perfect choice to lead our Canadian sales team,” said Erich Schmidt, senior director of sales. “His expert knowledge of all aspects of our sales aftermarket operations and the automotive aftermarket will ensure ongoing outstanding service to our customer partners.”   Source: Aftermarket News

Pep Boys Taps Scott Collette As New CEO

Pep Boys announced the appointment of Scott Collette as Chief Executive Officer, who has assumed day-to-day leadership of the company. Collette, a C-suite retail veteran, joins Pep Boys from Menards where he worked since 1986, the last 13 years as Chief Operating Officer position. As COO at Menards, Pep Boys says Collette served as a leading force in building profit, expanding the business footprint, and driving continued sales growth throughout his tenure. Collette will prioritize retention and recruitment efforts while bringing a keen focus on talent development and workplace culture to Pep Boys. Pep Boys says Collette will help the company expand its footprint with a focus on strategic, high-growth markets.   Source: Aftermarket News

Caliber President/CEO Mark Sanders Announces Retirement

The Caliber family of brands, including Caliber Collision alongside Caliber Auto Care and Caliber Auto Glass, announced that after 26 years with the organization, President and CEO Mark Sanders will retire and move into a special advisory role for the next 18 months, effective March 6, 2023. Sanders grew up in the collision repair industry working alongside his father, also an industry veteran. In 1997, Caliber acquired their two collision repair shops, and since then, Sanders has held a variety of operational roles, including Caliber Chief Operating Officer and later President and CEO. “Mark has been the cornerstone of Caliber since 1997 and instrumental in the organization’s growth and success over the years,” said Steve Grimshaw, chairman of the board. “As President and CEO, he led Caliber back from the global pandemic and successfully responded to multiple industry challenges. Mark’s leadership and commitment to Caliber made an enduring mark on the collision repair industry and every teammate he inspired to reach their full potential.” Building Caliber to what it is today is more than I ever thought possible,” said Sanders. “Only 10 years ago, we had 100 centers – now more than 1,600 and growing. We went from 2,500 teammates to more than 25,000. Above all, we achieved this by living our purpose, Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life. It has been an honor and privilege serving our teammates, customers and partners for so many years.” Sanders will support David Simmons in his new role as president and CEO of Caliber. Simmons has a diverse background leading large, multinational organizations in the pharmaceutical industry and brings a wealth of experience to Caliber’s next phase of growth, the company says.   Source: Aftermarket News

DMA Industries Names Fred Snow Chief Operating Officer

Fred Snow has been named DMA Industries’ new chief operating officer (COO). Most recently, he served as president and COO of Hella Automotive Sales Inc. Hella is a global tier-one manufacturer specializing in lighting and electronics. Hella Automotive Sales Inc. is a subsidiary of Hella that focuses on the aftermarket and special OE business in the U.S., Canada, and export to Central and South America.  As DMA Industries COO, Snow will be responsible for the supply chain, product management, marketing, dc operations, facilities, and production. The company says this newly created position is a significant step in the growth arc of DMA Industries. Commenting on Snow’s appointment, John Treece, CEO, and president, stated, “DMA has enjoyed six years of exponential growth and expects this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Scaling our organization’s leadership abilities to handle this growth while continuing to service our customers with the best in industry excellence is our top priority. I am very pleased to have Fred join our senior management team as chief operating officer. Fred will play a critical role in helping to manage our organization going forward. His years of industry experience and operational background will be a great addition to our team. I have known Fred for several years. Watching his ability to vision operational needs and then strategically put together a strategic plan to achieve the desired results has been very impressive for me. Fred’s leadership style and customer-centric nature are completely in alignment with our company’s vision and culture as an organization. Fred will be an instrumental part of helping me lead our organization going forward.” Snow added, “I am pleased to bring my lifelong commitment to the aftermarket to the DMA team, whose dedication and creativity have created the growth path DMA is now on.  This is an exciting time for DMA and I can see a lot of opportunities ahead. I have known John Treece (CEO) for many years from our industry service together, given our shared vision and industry views, I know working with the team we can capitalize on the opportunities in front of us.”   Source: Aftermarket News

DEI Names New VP of Sales & Marketing

Design Engineereing, Inc. (DEI) announced the addition of Brad Bricker to its sales team as the new Vice President of Sales & Marketing. In this role, Bricker will manage the inside sales team focused on DEI’s automotive aftermarket products, as well as work with automotive aftermarket representatives, outside representatives in the RV and Powersports groups, and DEI’s marketing and product development teams. Bricker brings nearly 30 years of sales, marketing and management experience with automotive equipment and accessory manufacturers. He has a wealth of experience in automotive sales and product development, combining a servant leader mindset with a track record of growing sales and a focus on building relationships. “The company treats their employees like family and everyone who works here genuinely cares about the welfare of the company and in providing the best products and service to their customers,” Bricker said. “The brand is well-liked and respected by everyone from consumers to fellow manufacturers. The company philosophy is all about doing the right thing, being customer centric, and taking the time to have some fun along the way.” “The future at DEI is bright,” said DEI’s Tom Miller. “The company remains committed to listening to the needs of our consumers and distributors so we can continue to lead the field in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of quality new products and adding Bricker to our team will continue DEI in this direction.”   Source: Aftermarket News

Apollo Tyres Names Head of Nat’l Sales for Commercial Tires

Apollo Tyres Ltd. has named Brad Persons as the company’s new national sales head for commercial tires. In this role, Persons will oversee the company’s sales initiatives within the U.S. and Canada for commercial tires. Prior to joining Apollo, Persons was the director of OEM Sales, GNB Industrial Power Division for Stryten Energy. He began working in the tire industry in 2003 as a commercial tire & service salesperson. Since then, he has worked for organizations such as Michelin up until 2017, with his last post as a sales force development manager, Commercial and Industrial Tires Persons graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s in finance and economics. He later completed a Master of Science in Management and a Master of Business Administration at Southern Wesleyan University. Persons’ announcement coincides with Apollo launching a complete line of commercial tires for fleets at the TMC (Transport Maintenance Council) in Orlando.   Source: Aftermarket News

Interstate Batteries Appoints New CEO and Chairman

Interstate Batteries announced the promotion of Chief Operating Officer Lain Hancock to president and chief executive officer. Hancock, who joined the organization in January 2019, assumes the new role on May 1. Scott Miller, who has served as president and CEO of the organization for over a decade will become executive chairman of the Interstate Board of Directors, succeeding his father, Norm Miller, who will assume the role of chairman emeritus. “For the past year, we’ve been working on this succession plan, assessing our long-term goals for growth and expansion and identifying who would be the best person to lead Interstate through its next chapter,” said Miller. “Lain was the clear choice with his values-driven approach to leadership and his deep knowledge of and experience in the distribution and CPG industries. He will be an essential piece to advancing a future-ready operating model so that Interstate continues to thrive well into the future.”  In Hancock’s role as president and CEO, Interstate Batteries says he will lead strategic initiatives to support and accelerate the company’s overall growth strategy as well as cultivate its extraordinary culture. Prior to joining Interstate Batteries, he spent 12 years at Keurig Dr Pepper, most recently as Chief Strategy and Emerging Brands Officer. Lain’s prior experience includes management consulting with McKinsey & Company and 11 years as an Aviation Branch officer with the United States Army. “I’m honored and grateful to Norm, Scott and the Board for the opportunity to lead this team of exceptionally talented individuals,” said Hancock. “Interstate Batteries possesses such a rich history and is deeply committed to its Purpose and Values. I’m humbled to be a part of this organization and look forward to working with Scott, the Board and the rest of the leadership team as we seek to deliver on our Purpose now and for generations to come.”   Source: Aftermarket News

Noregon Appoints Pam Marion President, COO

Noregon, an IoT company specializing in diagnostics and connected vehicle solutions, announced Pam Marion as its new president and chief operating officer. Marion joins other members of Noregon’s executive team at the company’s corporate headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. In her role as president and COO, Marion will lead the company’s day-to-day operations and execute strategies for growth. Prior to joining Noregon, Marion served as Global SVP of Customer Success for Genesys. Marion brings Software as a Service (SaaS) experience to Noregon, having served as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) for both Omnitracs and Domo. Prior to serving as CCO, Marion spent 12 years at SAP in a variety of roles that included positions in service, sales, and custom solutions, according to Noregon. “After a comprehensive executive search, it became clear Mrs. Marion was the right fit for Noregon,” said Founder and Executive Chairman, Bill Hathaway. “Not only is she a proven leader, but her extensive experience in software and technology positioned her as the perfect candidate for this role.” “I am excited and honored to join Noregon as President and COO,” stated Marion. “Noregon plays a vital role in ensuring fleets have safe and healthy vehicles to keep the supply chain moving and I look forward to working with the leadership team to provide our customers the best experience possible.”   Source: Aftermarket News

East Penn Announces New Leadership Appointments

East Penn Manufacturing Co. has announced the promotion of three executives to new EVP positions. Norbert Maleschitz has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In his new role, Maleschitz will oversee the company’s daily operations, which include manufacturing, purchasing, distribution and engineering. This will be in addition to his prior duties as chief technology officer, managing East Penn’s further advancement of technology, innovation, and continuous improvement for the company’s products, processes and manufacturing equipment. He will continue to report directly to Chris Pruitt, CEO/president. Christy Weeber has been promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Weeber’s role will further focus on developing financial and corporate strategic priorities and risk management. Weeber will continue to oversee East Penn’s legal and IT departments, in addition to her current oversight of the financial aspects of the company including general accounting and finance, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit, and costing. She will continue to report directly to Pruitt. Pete Stanislawczyk has been promoted to executive vice president and chief commercial officer. This newly created position will involve the oversight of all the Transportation Sales segments including: Original Equipment, Aftermarket, Private and Proprietary Brands, and Branch Operations; all Industrial segments including: Motive Power and Reserve Power; Wire, Cable, & Battery Accessories Sales and customer service for the transportation division. As East Penn continues to grow these areas, this added organizational structuring will even better position the company’s ability to address evolving customer needs across multiple divisions, according to the company. He will continue to report directly to Pruitt.   Source: Aftermarket News

Auto Care Names Director of Digital Products

The Auto Care Association announced the addition of David Logan as its new director of digital products. Logan will lead Auto Care’s ongoing development and maintenance of its product suite. In addition, he will collaborate with stakeholders to develop product roadmaps and determine which technology is needed to achieve the vision, the association says. David Logan is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry, according to the Auto Care Association. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions in product management and catalog direction. He has a proven track record of success working with FEL-PRO, Sealed Power, Raybestos, TRICO, Carter, FRAM and Victor-Reinz.   Source: Aftermarket News

Quadratec Appoints New Category Manager

Quadratec Inc., one of the world’s largest independent retailers of parts and accessories for Jeep vehicles, recently announced the promotion of Fred Konkle to category manager, effective immediately. One of the company’s longest-tenured employees, Konkle brings three decades of proven aftermarket automotive experience in sales, purchasing, pricing and vendor relations to his new role. “Fred has been a dedicated employee of Quadratec for over 30 years and I’m excited to watch him bring his knowledge, experience and drive to this new role,” said Dan O’Connor, director of category management. “He knows what sells, understands our customers, is respected by our partners, and most of all, lives Jeep. Behind his expertise, we are positioning ourselves to significantly grow his respective categories moving forward.” Konkle will be responsible for overseeing several critical categories including winches, hitches, camping, overlanding, truck bed covers and doors, as well as collaborating with vendors to ensure Quadratec offers the best inventory for its customers. Additionally, he is tasked with understanding industry, consumer and category trends, and translating those insights into actionable business strategies to help Quadratec meet consumer and company goals. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to jump in and work closely with the category management staff we’ve assembled in order to help grow our company and serve our customers,” Konkle said. “I look forward to expanding opportunities for our vendors to get their products in the hands of our customers.” Konkle joined Quadratec as a sales representative in 1992 and was one of the company’s original first five employees. Most recently, he served as an assistant category manager and content management specialist.   Source: Aftermarket News

Leadership Change at MANN+HUMMEL Americas Group

MANN+HUMMEL, a global filtration solutions provider, has announced a senior leadership change within the company’s Automotive Aftermarket Americas group. Rodrigo Reyes, who has led the company’s Aftermarket Americas team since 2013, will assume a new role within the company as senior vice president Europe, Automotive Aftermarket. In his new assignment, Reyes will be responsible for leading efforts within the European Aftermarket team. MANN+HUMMEL has brought on industry expert Marco Faulenbach to serve as senior vice president of Automotive Aftermarket Americas. Faulenbach will lead MANN+HUMMEL’s aftermarket activities in North and South America including engineering, sales, and distribution for the WIX Filters, Purolator and MANN-FILTER brands. “I was inspired by MANN+HUMMEL’s vision of “Leadership in Filtration” through cleaner mobility, cleaner air, and cleaner water, and believe there are great things we can do to improve the world around us,” said Faulenbach. “I am honored to lead the Aftermarket Americas team, working with timeless and industry-leading brands, as well as an amazing team of Aftermarket experts. I’m looking forward to this next great adventure and couldn’t be happier to be a part of the MANN+HUMMEL Group.” Faulenbach brings extensive experience across various technical and commercial disciplines within the Automotive Aftermarket. He held multiple leadership roles with suppliers, OEMs, and trading companies within the Independent Aftermarket. Most recently Faulenbach served as the Chief Commercial Officer with LKQ Europe. During his career, Faulenbach also worked in senior management positions with BMW and Bosch. “We are very happy to welcome Marco Faulenbach to our team, as he has shown great leadership, drive and integrity throughout his extensive and varied career,” said Stefan Tolle, president and general manager Automotive Aftermarket for MANN+HUMMEL. “Marco officially joined our team in early February and has been working closely with Rodrigo to ensure a smooth and successful transition of leadership. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Rodrigo and wish him the greatest success in his new role with MANN+HUMMEL.”   Source: Aftermarket News

BBB Industries Names Emily Weaver CFO

BBB Industries has appointed Emily Weaver as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective immediately. Weaver will be based in the company’s corporate center outside of Mobile, Alabama, and replaced James (Tim) Garner, who left the company. Weaver is an experienced industrial sector CFO, having served in that capacity previously with Ingersoll Rand (formerly Gardner Denver), a Fortune 500, worldwide manufacturer of mission-critical flow technologies for industrial, energy and medical end-markets, as well as specialty vehicle products and technologies. More recently, she served as CFO of PSSI, a portfolio company of private equity firm Blackstone. Prior to those experiences, Weaver served as vice president – finance for Danaher, where she led the successful spin-off and public offering of the industrial segment, now called Fortive. She then joined Fortive as chief accounting officer with responsibilities that included Fortive’s FP&A, accounting and reporting functions and finance talent development. BBB’s CEO Duncan Gillis, commented, “Emily is the right finance leader to guide us through the next stage of our journey. She brings a unique mix of intellectual capacity, drive and experiences coupled with the right leadership style. I am absolutely delighted that Emily decided to join our company and look forward to partnering with her over the coming years.”   Source: Aftermarket News

AACF Adds 2 New Board Members

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) has announced the addition of two new members, Jacki Lutz and Kathryn Reinhardt, to its board of trustees. The newly appointed trustees say they are eager to apply their wealth of industry knowledge, marketing experience and contacts combined with their intense desire to help those in need to their AACF board duties, in an effort to reach more beneficiaries and increase the AACF’s recognition across the vast automotive aftermarket landscape. Lutz is global head of communications, training & ecommerce, auto at Sensata Technologies, and brings 14 years of marketing experience and nine years in the automotive aftermarket. “I have admired AACF from afar for many years,” said Lutz. “I have always respected their mission and the positive impact the AACF has on so many lives from all over the automotive aftermarket. Over the past few years, I supported their fundraisers and promoted their mission on LinkedIn. I am thrilled to be given the opportunity now to play a larger role in their mission and I am honored to have been selected to serve.” Lutz sits on several other association boards including Young Auto Care Network Group, Women in Auto Care and was the past president of the Automotive Communications Council. Reinhardt is senior vice president marketing & events for Hemmings. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket and has a track record of delivering unique and effective content and her history of planning and executing marketing campaigns. “I am honored to be part of this elite group of volunteers who donate their time, resources and experience to making a difference in the lives of our automotive aftermarket community,” said Reinhardt. “I am grateful to be able to join the board and give back to an industry that has given me so much.” Reinhardt serves on the SEMA Board of Directors and was awarded SEMA’s Person of the Year and the Top 35 under 35 award, along with a number of other industry accolades. “I am both excited and honored to have Jacki and Kathryn join the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation Board of Trustees,” said Larry Magee, Foundation president. “Jacki and Kathryn bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to the AACF that better enables our ability to achieve our mission of helping those within our industry who have fallen on hard times and have nowhere else to turn among the diverse Automotive Aftermarket we serve.” According to AACF, research shows that nonprofit boards that include a higher percentage of women tend to have board members who participate more in fundraising and advocacy. Members of these boards also tend to be more involved in the board’s work and mission. In addition, boards with higher percentages of young members (age 39 or younger) have greater commitment and involvement and engage more in oversight and governance. This is also true of boards with higher percentages of women members. This was according to the study, The Impact of Diversity: Understanding How Nonprofit Board Diversity Affects Philanthropy, Leadership, and Board Engagement conducted by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI in partnership with Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates and BoardSource. “The AACF board realizes the importance of diversity of its members and relies on a variety of industry experiences to further the mission of helping families,” said Joel Ayres, AACF Executive Director. “Bringing on two female professionals will no doubt improve the reach of the foundations’ mission.”   Source: Aftermarket News