Maccabeus Top AutoMobility Stories – July 2022

Tirehub Names VP of Sales, Marketing & Strategic Growth

TireHub, the national tire distributor cofounded by Bridgestone Americas Inc. (Bridgestone) and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear), announced today that it has hired Curtis Brison to fill the role of vice president of sales, marketing and strategic growth.  “Adding Curtis to our executive team is a win for TireHub and for our customers,” said CEO Ted Becker. “He is a proven leader and accomplished industry executive. He knows the industry, knows our customers, and knows what it takes to be successful. Curtis is the right person to lead this next stage of dynamic growth.” Brison will play a critical strategic role in growing TireHub’s business to enable future growth and expansion plans. He will also be responsible for TireHub’s go-to-market strategy, ensuring that it delivers differentiated value and growth for customers. He joins TireHub with more than 16 years of strategic leadership experience in the tire and automotive industry. He most recently served as the president of Hankook Tire North America and previously led the sales and marketing divisions of Hankook, Exide Technologies and Michelin.  “I am passionate about this industry, about customers and about providing winning experiences that create profitable growth. It is an incredible opportunity to be part of an industry transforming joint venture and I’m excited to help lead its next stage of dynamic growth,” said TireHub’s newest executive Curtis Brison. “I’ve watched their energy and excitement spread across the tire industry, and I look forward to being a Hubber.”  TireHub was founded in 2018 and now operates 73 TireHub Logistics Centers across the country.  Source: Aftermarket News

Marc Siemssen Joins the MEYLE AG Executive Board

MEYLE AG, a spare parts manufacturer based in Hamburg, has appointed Marc Siemssen to its Executive Board, effective July 1. Siemssen has been MEYLE’s chief human resources officer for five years. In addition to human resources, Siemssen also will be responsible for marketing, sales and product management in the new role. He has many years of experience in leadership positions in the automotive and other industries. Siemssen’s appointment completes the MEYLE Executive Board, which currently comprises Dr Karl J. Gaertner, chairman, and Dirk Damaschke, chief financial officer. “Over the past five years, Marc Siemssen has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of our company, the people here, our culture and our market, which is all the more remarkable considering the unique circumstances of the pandemic. We look forward to shaping the future of our company with his input,” said Gaertner. Siemssen says he is highly motivated to perform his new role at the company. “I would like to thank you for placing your trust in me, and look forward to overcoming current challenges such as the pandemic and identifying new development opportunities for the manufacturer. I remain fully committed to my responsibilities in Human Resources, with a focus on culture, the employer brand and more,” he stated.  Working closely with his colleagues in Marketing, Sales and Product Management, Siemssen says he also is eager to help promote growth and success. Siemssen says he sees huge potential in the global spare parts market for the manufacturer and developer of technically refined parts to establish an even stronger position internationally and generally increase brand awareness among those unfamiliar with the sector. For the benefit of business partners, customers and employees, Siemssen plans to pursue the company’s long-term aim of developing durable, innovative solutions, establishing a sustainable position and leading the company to the future alongside Gaertner and Damaschke.  Source: Aftermarket News

Stoneridge Appoints Chief Procurement Officer

Stoneridge Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic vehicle systems, today announced that Salvatore (Sal) Orsini has been named chief procurement officer effective July 5. In this new role, Orsini will have responsibility for all aspects of the company’s global procurement organization, including purchasing, supplier quality and global supply chain strategy.  “As Stoneridge continues to grow in each of our segments and across the world, a sustainable and resilient supply chain is a cornerstone of our success,” said Jon DeGaynor, president and CEO, Stoneridge. “Sal’s proven purchasing and supply chain leadership experience will be key in executing our long-term strategy.” Orsini brings more than 25 years of global supply chain management experience in the automotive and aerospace industries, leading procurement organizations around the world while living in Asia Pacific, Europe, and Mexico. Most recently, he was the vice president, global chief supply management officer at Nexteer Automotive. Prior to that, Orsini held various leadership roles at Aptiv, General Motors, Rolls-Royce Aerospace and Delphi. Orsini is a graduate of Central Michigan University. He also completed additional studies through Harvard Business School, Executive Emerging Leaders program and received his Certification in Professional Supply Management from the Institute for Supply Management. Orsini will be based at Stoneridge’s headquarters in Novi, Michigan, and will report to DeGaynor. Additionally, effective July 1, Kevin Heigel, senior vice president, integrated supply chain, has returned to a consulting role to support the company’s global integrated supply chain initiatives on an as-needed basis and as a result, is no longer employed directly by the company. “Kevin’s expertise and leadership has been integral in driving Stoneridge through the recent and continuing unprecedented global supply chain climate. Kevin has been a deeply valuable partner and I thank him for his contributions,” said DeGaynor.  Source: Aftermarket News

Nic Moncher Named Head of Marketing for Hoosier Racing Tire

Hoosier Racing Tire, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of racing tires, has named Nic Moncher to head up the newly established marketing department. Moncher will be responsible for developing business plans that support the company’s strategic targets, supporting sales concepts and expanding promotional marketing strategies to drive growth. In addition, he will help with overall brand development and strengthening of the brand in the global marketplace. Moncher holds a degree in Business Management with a concentration in Marketing and Communications from Belmont Abbey College. He also brings many years of marketing experience in the racing industry working with several major racing teams based in North Carolina. “I am excited about the appointment of Nic. I am convinced he will further advance our marketing vision and ambitious growth plan,” said Joerg Burfien, president and CEO of Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. “Nic’s history in the motorsports industry and passion for racing is the perfect combination to accelerate our brand development and marketing initiatives.” “I’m honored to be joining the Hoosier Racing Tire family and becoming part of the world’s largest manufacturer of racing tires,” said Moncher. “Over the years their storied brand has become synonymous with racing. I am excited about having the opportunity to drive this brand globally.” Today, Hoosier Racing Tire is one of the largest race tire manufacturers in the world, producing more than 1,000 different tire specifications. The company has its own state-of-the-art, fully integrated production facilities, recently adding a high-tech mixing plant, with enough capacity to produce not only for Hoosier Racing Tire, but to have the ability to produce rubber for additional entities as well as a model sales and distribution network.  Source: Aftermarket News

ZF names Holger Klein as Its Next CEO

Holger Klein, 52, joined ZF in 2014 from McKinsey, and later worked on the integration of U.S. supplier TRW Automotive.  ZF Friedrichshafen has named Holger Klein, a current management board member focusing on China, as its next chairman and CEO, succeeding Wolf-Henning Scheider, who will leave the company at the start of 2023. The world’s third-largest auto supplier also said CFO Konstantin Sauer and Commercial Vehicles chief Wilhelm Rehn would leave the company. Those changes take effect at the end of 2022, the supplier said Friday in a statement. Scheider, 60, joined ZF in 2018 from Mahle, where he was chairman and CEO. Before that he was head of the Automotive Technology business at Robert Bosch. He announced in March that he would be stepping down at the end of this year. Klein, 52, joined ZF in 2014 from management consultancy McKinsey. He led the integration of TRW Automotive after ZF’s purchase of the U.S. supplier in 2015, and in 2017 became head of the Car Chassis Technology Division. Klein has been a member of ZF’s management board since 2018, with responsibility for the Asia-Pacific and India regions from his base in Shanghai. He also manages Car Chassis Technology, aftermarket and ZF’s worldwide production. “As a board member … Holger Klein was intimately involved in the strategic planning process for the coming years,” Supervisory Board Chairman Heinrich Hiesinger said in a statement. “He will dynamically continue the successful transformation at ZF.”  Wolf-Henning Scheider joined ZF in 2018 from Mahle and Bosch.  Under Klein, ZF won new customers among established automakers and new entrants in China, ZF said, and was instrumental in positioning ZF as a systems, rather than components, supplier. ZF is not publicly traded. The Zeppelin Foundation, which is administered by the city of Friedrichshafen, controls 94 percent of the company’s shares. ZF, which generates about 27 percent of its business in North America, is forecasting sales of 40 billion euros ($40.1 billion) in 2022, with an adjusted EBIT margin of 4.5 to 5.5 percent. Free cash flow is predicted to be 1.5 billion to 2 billion euros. A replacement has not been named yet for Sauer, 62, who joined ZF in 1990 and has been CFO since 2010. Wilhelm will be replaced as head of commercial vehicles by Peter Laier, who until 2021 was head of commercial vehicles at supplier Knorr-Bremse. ZF ranks No. 3 on the 2022 Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with worldwide sales to automakers of $39.3 billion in 2021.  Source: Automotive News

Tenneco CEO Kesseler to Depart following acquisition

Tenneco Inc. said CEO Brian Kesseler will be replaced by Jim Voss once the pending $1.6 billion acquisition of the supplier by investor Apollo Global Management Inc. is completed. Voss, the CEO of Apollo, will take over as head of Tenneco once several final conditions are met and the deal closes, the company said Thursday in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The companies announced the acquisition on Feb. 23. Tenneco will continue operating under the Tenneco brand as a wholly owned subsidiary of Pegasus Holdings, the companies said in a press release. Tenneco’s board of directors and shareholders have approved the agreement. Tenneco supplies components such as mufflers and shock absorbers. It also owns several aftermarket brands such as Champion spark plugs that it inherited from its acquisition of longtime Detroit-area supplier Federal Mogul in 2018 for $5.4 billion. Apollo partner Michael Reiss said in the statement: “We look forward to working with the Tenneco team to build on the strong foundation in place today, investing across their platform and product categories for growth and delivering innovative solutions for customers.” Tenneco said it expects to complete the transaction in the second half of 2022. Spokespeople for Tenneco and Apollo could not be reached for further comment. Tenneco ranks No. 12 on the 2022 Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with worldwide sales to automakers of $15 billion in 2021.  Source: Automotive News

Dan Hanson Jr. of Hanson Distributing Elected to CAWA Board

At the CAWA June Leadership meeting, Dan Hanson Jr. of the Hanson Distributing Co. was elected the 2023 secretary to the CAWA Board of Directors.

• Chair Young Suhr, Jr. of APW-Knox Seeman Warehouse;
• Vice-Chair Tom Ogaz of the Parts Authority;
• Wayne Schaack of the Pronto Network; and
• Immediate Past Chair Michael Rukov of IMR Inc.

Hanson’s primary day-to-day responsibilities at Hanson Distributing are to oversee the sales and marketing, operations and product and pricing for Hanson’s company-owned store division HMC Auto Parts. In addition, his portfolio includes company-wide new product additions, selection, and scouting to ensure that the company is able to provide the right parts to meet the present and emerging needs of the professional technician, automotive enthusiast, and independent jobber in the 21st Century marketplace. He also has a keen interest in application-specific automotive lubricants and chemicals. Dan also serves on the Hanson Distributing Company Board of Directors and is its corporate secretary. “It’s a high honor to be nominated to serve the aftermarket again on the CAWA, as secretary to the board of directors, and I greatly appreciate that my peers and colleagues on the board had confidence in me to do so for a second time. CAWA and its mission is very dear to me and I’m looking forward to the task ahead. I believe our future is a bright one,” said Hanson. The 2023 officers will be formally installed at CAWA’s annual dinner gala, to be held in conjunction with AAPEX, on Oct. 30, at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.  Source: Aftermarket News

Kimberley Gardiner, marketing head at VW of America, to depart

Volkswagen of America’s head of marketing, Kimberley Gardiner, is leaving the automaker after less than two years on the job, VW dealers were told Wednesday. Gardiner, 54, one of Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry in 2020, was hired away from Mitsubishi Motors North America in November 2020 as VW’s senior vice president for brand marketing. She previously led marketing efforts at Kia America and was chief marketing officer and vice president of operations for 5th Kind, a global digital asset management company. She began her automotive career with Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. in 1999. A spokesman for VW declined to comment on her departure. In a note to VW dealers Wednesday, Andrew Savvas, head of sales for Volkswagen of America, said Gardiner “has informed me of her decision to leave Volkswagen of America, effective July 15th. Kimberley has been instrumental in helping strengthen our brand in the U.S. marketplace with the introduction of the ID.4, Taos and Golf R. She has also helped broaden our soccer engagement strategy and dealer support programs and created a learning focused culture for our team. I will personally miss working with her.” Savvas said VW’s marketing team will report to him until a successor is identified. Gardiner was in her role during the brand’s roundly criticized “Voltswagen” stunt in March 2021, which resulted in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation.  Source: Automotive News

Driven Brands Appoints Jose Tomás to Board of Directors

Driven Brands Holdings has announced the election of Jose Tomás to its board of directors, effective July 11. “We’re thrilled to have Jose join our board of directors,” said Jonathan Fitzpatrick, CEO and president of Driven Brands. “He brings a wide breadth of experience, diverse perspective and keen focus on operations, people and culture that will be invaluable as we continue to grow Driven. His election also marks an important milestone in Driven’s journey as a public company as the majority of our directors are now independent.” Tomás currently serves as the chief administrative officer for TelevisaUnivision, the world’s leading Spanish language content and media company, where he oversees strategic support areas, including Human Resources; Corporate Communications; Enterprise Technology Services; Facilities/Real Estate; Social Impact; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Corporate Safety, Health and Security. Previously, he was a principal and managing partner at BrandSparc, a global communications, employment branding and human resources consulting firm. He also led human resources and other strategic functions for General Motors, Anthem Inc., and Burger King Corp. With Tomás’ election, the board now consists of nine members, with the majority of the company’s board of directors being independent. In connection with Tomás’ election, the board also reviewed membership of its committees. The board changed the composition of the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consist solely of independent directors, with Tomas serving on both committees. Tomás holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in management from Florida International University. He is a former national board member of the Society for Human Resources Management.   Source: Aftermarket News

Lordstown Motors, in another leadership shuffle, taps industry veteran Hightower as CEO

EV startup Lordstown Motors Corp. replaced its CEO with insider and automotive industry veteran Edward Hightower on Tuesday in a management shake-up aimed at ramping up efforts to start production of its pickup truck. Hightower, president of the company since November, takes the reins from Daniel Ninivaggi who will become executive chairman and focus on partnerships and capital raising. The former Ford Motor Co. and General Motors executive takes the helm at a crucial time for the 4-year-old company, which plans to start production of its Endurance pick-up truck with Foxconn in the third quarter. While demand for electric vehicles has surged globally, supply chain disruptions and rising material costs have made it tough for companies to raise output and meet red-hot demand. Lordstown Motors has also struggled with funding and had to sell certain assets to Taiwan-based Foxconn in May to secure capital essential for production. The company was also targeted by short-seller Hindenburg Research last year, which prompted it to launch an internal investigation and later led to the departure of its then CEO and CFO. In its statement on Tuesday, Lordstown Motors also named Donna Bell, a former Ford executive with nearly three decades of experience in automotive product development, as its executive vice president of product creation, engineering and supply chain. Jane Ritson-Parsons, who took over the role of chief commercial officer in November, will become an advisor, it said.  Source: Automotive News

CDK Global CEO Brian Krzanich steps down following Brookfield sale; Brian MacDonald named acting CEO

CDK Global Inc. CEO Brian Krzanich has resigned from the company following the completion of its sale last week to investment firm Brookfield Business Partners. CDK said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that Krzanich, 62, notified the company last Wednesday that he would step down from his roles as president and CEO of the dealership technology giant based in Hoffman Estates, Ill., as of Monday, July 11. CDK said former CEO Brian MacDonald, who led the company from January 2016 to November 2018, took over the CEO role on an acting basis as of Monday. “CDK is a mission-critical software platform for automotive commerce with a bright future, and I am excited about our path forward and accelerated growth,” MacDonald, 57, said in a statement Tuesday. The change is among several executive-level changes CDK disclosed Tuesday in the regulatory filing. As of Monday, Joe Tautges, 46, no longer serves as COO but remains with the company as a special adviser to the CEO. Amy Byrne, 51, chief human resources officer, will leave her role as of Friday, while CFO Eric Guerin, 51, will depart July 22. CDK said in the filing that it “initiated certain organizational design and staffing changes to streamline operations and the reporting structure of the Company in order to improve operational delivery and performance.” Before his earlier time at CDK, MacDonald was CEO of Hertz Rental Equipment Corp. and interim CEO of Hertz Corp. He also held roles with Sunoco, General Motors and Isuzu Motors. MacDonald has served on the board of Suncor Energy Inc. since July 2018. “We are pleased to welcome Brian MacDonald, a respected executive with deep expertise in automotive retail, back to CDK,” Doug Bayerd, a director on CDK’s board, said in a statement. “He joins an experienced team to help enhance CDK’s value proposition for its customers.” MacDonald will receive an annual base salary of $1 million, plus bonus and incentive benefits, according to the regulatory filing. CDK last week completed its sale to Brookfield Business Partners — a unit of global alternative asset management firm Brookfield Asset Management’s private equity group — in a roughly $8.7 billion transaction. CDK’s stock is no longer publicly traded.  Source: Automotive News

Tesla’s top Autopilot exec is leaving the automaker

Tesla Inc.’s top artificial intelligence executive and a key figure behind its driver-assistance system Autopilot is leaving the electric-car maker after a months-long sabbatical. Andrej Karpathy, who joined Tesla in 2017, announced his departure in a series of tweets Wednesday. He was senior director of AI and led the Autopilot computer-vision team that’s tried for years to render the company’s cars capable of driving autonomously. “It’s been a great pleasure to help Tesla towards its goals over the last five years and a difficult decision to part ways,” Karpathy wrote. “In that time, Autopilot graduated from lane keeping to city streets and I look forward to seeing the exceptionally strong Autopilot team continue that momentum.” The departure adds to a long line of turnover atop the Autopilot group, which has struggled to realize Elon Musk’s autonomous ambitions. The chief executive officer raised billions of dollars in 2019 after telling Wall Street Tesla would have 1 million robotaxis on the road the following year. The shared network of driverless cars Musk described still doesn’t exist, and the systems Tesla markets as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, or FSD, require fully attentive drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. The departure of Karpathy, 35, might reflect challenges Tesla is having with FSD and robotaxis, according to Dan Levy, a Credit Suisse analyst with the equivalent of a buy rating on the shares. “We continue to view Tesla efforts in AV/robotaxi as ‘show me,'” Levy wrote in a note to clients. Tesla shares fell 1.3 percent to $702.15 as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, before the start of regular trading. Musk announced Karpathy was on a roughly four month sabbatical in March, and Karpathy tweeted at that time he was looking forward to returning to Tesla. After Karpathy wrote Wednesday he decided to leave the company, Musk replied with thanks and praise. Karpathy said he had “no concrete plans” for his next act but would revisit “long-term passions around technical work in AI, open source and education.” Autopilot has come under intensifying scrutiny from U.S. regulators. Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration escalated one of its investigations into whether the system is defective and revealed it had reviewed almost 200 crashes involving vehicles using the technology. NHTSA’s other defect probe relates to vehicles equipped with Autopilot features suddenly braking at high speeds. The change in Tesla’s executive ranks also follows a move to scale back part of the Autopilot group. Last month, Tesla laid off roughly 200 data-annotation workers and closed an office in San Mateo, California. A year ago, Musk said responsibility for Autopilot was shared by Karpathy, Ashok Elluswamy and Milan Kovac, describing the group’s leadership as a “knights of the round table” structure.  Source: Automotive News

Fisker Appoints Alpay Uguz As Manufacturing Head

Fisker, Inc.  (“Fisker”) names Alpay Uguz as senior vice president of global manufacturing, reporting to CEO Henrik Fisker, effective immediately.  In his role at Fisker, Alpay will oversee the company’s global manufacturing as Fisker grows towards its goal of producing one million vehicles annually in 2027. Alpay will focus on lean manufacturing and innovative techniques to reduce parts starting from the earliest development phase. “Alpay’s wealth of hands-on, global manufacturing experience will boost Fisker’s already ultra-fast development process, creating greater efficiency by incorporating the latest in new manufacturing methods,” CEO and Chairman Henrik Fisker said. “Alpay and his team will integrate advanced manufacturing processes early in the vehicle design and engineering phases. We are developing a seamless approach from design to production with faster assembly times, ultimately providing high-quality vehicles optimized for cost and service to our customers.”  “I’m excited to apply my knowledge of lean manufacturing deployment, new product launches, and appreciation for innovation in Fisker’s fast-paced environment, utilizing my cross-cultural experience working in China, Germany, the UK, and the US,” Uguz said. Before joining Fisker, Alpay worked at BMW’s production facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina as the general manager of the brand’s SUVs.   Source: Aftermarket News

Cummins Elects Gary Belske to its Board of Directors

Cummins Inc., has announced the election of Gary Belske to its Board of Directors. “I am thrilled to add Gary to our Board of Directors,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. “Gary will enhance the strength of our board with his leadership experience, knowledge of a broad range of industries, and deep expertise in financial reporting that can augment the rigor and transparency of our financial processes.” Belske had a 38-year career at Ernst & Young before retiring in Dec. 2016. In his most recent role as Ernst & Young’s Deputy Managing Partner and chief operating officer, he was responsible for the overall strategy and operations for the Americas, where he oversaw business in 16 countries with approximately $15 billion in revenue, 50,000 employees and 4,000 partners. Prior to that, Belske served in other key leadership positions at Ernst & Young and worked with several of the firm’s largest global clients. Belske has extensive board experience, having served on Ernst & Young’s Americas and U.S. Boards for a decade. He also currently serves on the national board of College for Every Student and on the Board of Trustees at Rockhurst University. Since retiring from Ernst & Young, he has served on the Board of WilliamsMarston, an accounting, tax and valuation advisory firm.   Source: Aftermarket News

FullSpeed Automotive Appoints Rob Lynch as CEO

FullSpeed Automotive, one of the nation’s largest franchisors and operators of automotive aftermarket repair facilities, has announced that Rob Lynch has been appointed CEO of the company and will serve as a member of the company’s board of directors effective immediately. An accomplished executive with best-in-class capabilities and more than 30 years of experience, Lynch’s appointment will drive FullSpeed through its next phase of accelerated growth and further solidify its position as an industry leader. FullSpeed is the parent company to the flagship brands Grease Monkey, SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service and Kwik Kar. “We are thrilled to bring Rob to FullSpeed,” said Daniel Penn, managing director at MidOcean. “Rob is an incredibly experienced and highly talented executive with a proven track record of strategic management and leadership combined with deep operational expertise. His deep breadth of experience as a strategic change leader will bring tremendous value to the FullSpeed team from day one and help lead us through the next chapter of growth.” Lynch is an accomplished omni-channel retail executive, whose career has spanned leadership positions with Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Accenture Retail Strategy Consulting, Orchard Supply, Lumber Liquidators, and Channel Control Merchants. He has deep functional experience in a diverse set of skills, including strategy, store and field operations, supply chain, leadership development and culture. Lynch was most recently the president/CEO and director at KKR-Backed Channel Control Merchants, where he led a significant growth in profitability across the company’s expansive operations. Prior to Channel Control Merchants, Lynch was president/CEO of Lumber Liquidators, where he transformed the business into a high-growth and high-performance retailer. Lynch also served on the board of directors for Dorman Products Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer. He is an MBA graduate of Dartmouth College and has his Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Brigham Young University. “FullSpeed is a premier operator and franchisor in the automotive services industry that is making tremendous progress on its transformative expansion strategy,” said Lynch. “I am excited to join such a successful and rapidly growing organization and look forward to working with the company’s approximately 2,200 associates and 200 franchisees to continue to build upon the company’s development milestones.” The FullSpeed family of brands has more than 70 years of experience in providing quality car care in the industry. Since being acquired by MidOcean Partners in 2020, its growth and acquisition strategy has resulted in the completion of more than 30 separate acquisitions covering 110 locations, and now has more than 740 franchised and company-owned locations.   Source: Aftermarket News

Ford’s Hau Thai-Tang, Frederiek Toney to retire

Ford Motor Co. said Hau Thai-Tang, one of its top product development and purchasing executives, and Frederiek Toney, leader of its customer service division, will retire this year. Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief industrial platforms officer, will retire Oct. 1 after more than 34 years at Ford, the automaker said Thursday. Toney, vice president of the Ford Customer Service Division, will retire Dec. 1 after roughly 22 years with the company. Ford said Toney will be replaced by Dave Bozeman, who most recently was vice president of Amazon Transportation Services. Bozeman will also lead Ford Blue’s enthusiast vehicle brands in the U.S., including Bronco, Raptor and Mustang. Ford did not immediately name a replacement for Thai-Tang. “All of us at Ford are extremely grateful to Hau for his unrelenting passion for serving our customers with great products, and his thoughtful and compassionate leadership,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. Thai-Tang, 56, joined Ford in 1988 and has served in a number of high-profile engineering roles, including as chief engineer of the 2005 Mustang. He has said his favorite assignment, though, came in 1993 when he spent a year embedded with the Newman/Haas racing team near Chicago for the upcoming IndyCar season as a vehicle dynamics engineer. “It was a watershed moment for me,” he told Automotive News in 2018. “It became one of the assignments that catapulted me in the company. To this day, I still talk about it.” Recently, Thai-Tang helped spearhead the development of products such as the Bronco, Maverick and Mustang Mach-E. As one of Ford’s top supplier liaisons, he also helped steer the company through the coronavirus pandemic and recent supply chain disruptions. “I’m very grateful and honored to have served at Ford and proud to be leaving the company with one of the strongest, freshest and most appealing product lineups in our great history,” Thai-Tang said in a statement. “I plan to sprint across the finish line as we prepare to introduce more great products like the seventh-generation Mustang, and work closely with Jim, my Ford colleagues and our great suppliers on a smooth transition.” Thai-Tang was so influential at Ford that Elon Musk wanted him to become CEO of Tesla. According to the book Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk and the Bet of the Century, Musk offered Thai-Tang the role in 2007 as the company worked to bring its first car, the Roadster, to market. Musk brought him to California to test drive the Roadster, and then-CEO Martin Eberhard reportedly said he “had rarely seen somebody drive so aggressively.” Thai-Tang, according to author Tim Higgins, offered advice as well as praise, noting that “this is really amazing.” Thai-Tang ultimately wasn’t interested in the job, although the book says he offered the name of a headhunter he thought Tesla could use in its executive search. Toney, 66, joined Ford in 2000 and has helped its customer service division become one of the most diverse units within the company. He was named one of Automotive News’ inaugural Champions of Diversity last year. “I’ve had a great run and it’s been an honor to help develop FCSD into a first-class organization that is poised for even greater success,” Toney said in a statement. “I’m most proud of how we’ve taken care of our valued customers and contributed to the success of Ford by modernizing and growing key businesses like customer services, parts and accessories. “It’s been my privilege to serve this great company and work with fabulous colleagues who became dear friends. Together, we’ll make this a seamless handoff and I’ll continue to cheer on and be an ambassador for Ford.” Bozeman, who joins Ford on Sept. 1 and also has been named a company officer, will report to Kumar Galhotra, head of the Ford Blue division of internal combustion vehicles. “I felt a sense of mission and a commitment to positive change from everyone I met at Ford,” Bozeman said in a statement. “I’m a builder and love to innovate, and the opportunity to be part of transforming this great company and improving people’s lives resonated with me as an exciting exclamation point for my career.” Both Thai-Tang and Toney are former Automotive News All-Stars.  Source: Automotive News

Jennifer Rumsey Promoted to President and CEO of Cummins

Cummins Inc. has announced that, effective Aug. 1, Tom Linebarger will end his term as chief executive officer (CEO) and Jennifer Rumsey, president and chief operating officer (COO), will assume the role of president and CEO. Rumsey will be the seventh CEO and first woman to lead the company since it was founded in 1919. Linebarger will continue to serve as chairman of the board of directors and in an executive chairman role, working directly with Rumsey on specific initiatives that position the company for continued success, including completing the pending acquisition of Meritor. “Jen is a once-in-a-generation talent and the right leader for Cummins at this important time in our history,” said Linebarger. “She has been my partner in developing the Destination Zero strategy, which sets forth how the decarbonization of our industry will be a significant growth opportunity for Cummins. Her background as an engineer and technology expertise provides her a deep understanding of the major technical changes taking place and how to capitalize on them. Jen uniquely understands our customers and business, having worked in many different parts of the business during her more than 20-year career, and in every role, she has consistently delivered results. Most recently, she led our global operations as COO during one of the most challenging periods in our history, delivering record revenues and dramatically improving product quality and our market position while addressing unprecedented supply chain constraints. Most importantly, Jen is a principled leader who cares deeply about our stakeholders. We share a common vision for Cummins, and I am confident that Jen will lead Cummins into an even more prosperous future.” Tom Lynch, Cummins lead director, said, “On behalf of the Cummins board, I want to thank Tom for his three decades at the company, including the last 15 years where he served first in the COO role and then as CEO. His leadership has grown Cummins’ global business, positioned the company to lead in zero- and low-carbon solutions, and developed a highly capable and diverse management team to lead us through the technology transition. We look forward to his continued contributions as Executive Chairman. During our long-term strategic planning, the Board had the opportunity to see Jen lead on key business initiatives and co-author the Destination Zero strategy with Tom. Jen is the ideal choice to lead Cummins into its next chapter, and we are confident that Jen will drive continued success for our business and customers.” Since taking on the role of COO in March 2021, Rumsey has overseen Cummins’ global operations. In February 2022, she was elected to the Cummins Board of Directors, and she will maintain her seat on the board. “I am honored and proud to be appointed the next CEO of Cummins and excited about what the future holds for the company,” said Rumsey. “Growing up in Columbus, Indiana, where Cummins was founded, and spending most of my career here makes this announcement incredibly meaningful. I am grateful to Tom for his support and mentorship over the years and to the Board for their confidence in my leadership. My technical background, business experience and focus on people, purpose, and impact have prepared me for this moment. At Cummins, we build solutions that serve our customers’ needs and better our planet both now and in the future. At a time when technology is evolving more rapidly than at any point in our history, we must emphasize the critical role people play in our collective success. By putting people at the center of everything we do, we will power the path to decarbonization and advance our mission of powering a more prosperous world.” Rumsey began her Cummins career working in Research and Technology, primarily focused on advancing technology to reduce criteria pollutants from diesel engines. Since then, she has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility and impact, including bringing new platforms and technologies to the market, driving improvements in product quality, and developing the capability of global teams. She has also been deeply engaged with some of the company’s most important original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners. The leadership roles Rumsey has held include President of Components, where she oversaw a global portfolio of business units that delivered profitable growth while ensuring power solutions met performance and emissions goals, and Chief Technical Officer, where she led strategic investments in key technologies and applications to transition to lower carbon emissions products, laying the foundation years ago for the company’s New Power Business and Destination Zero strategy. Prior to Cummins, Rumsey worked for a fuel cell technology company. Rumsey is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, the Purdue Engineering Advisory Council and Women in Trucking Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and women in STEM fields. She resides in Columbus with her husband and has two college age daughters who are both pursuing engineering degrees.   Source: Aftermarket News

LMP Automotive to sell Stellantis dealership, hires BofA as it seeks ‘strategic options’; CFO terminated

LMP Automotive Holdings Inc. said it will sell its Stellantis dealership in New York, which it expects will generate $15.8 million. The publicly traded Fort Lauderdale, Fla., auto retailer said Friday that it has signed an agreement to sell its Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram store in White Plains, N.Y. The transaction is expected to close in October. LMP did not immediately release the name of the buyer. In February, LMP said it was exploring strategic alternatives for its business including a possible sale of the company, as it announced it would terminate seven pending acquisitions because it was unable to secure financing to pay for them and to close the deals under contracted time frames. LMP bought an 85 percent stake in White Plains Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in October. It has seven other franchised dealerships in its portfolio. The retailer said last week that the rest of its real estate appraised for about $50 million and that it believes its property and dealerships, including the Stellantis store under contract, are worth about $104 million. “We believe that our stock price does not reflect net asset value of our company and continue to seek strategic options to maximize shareholder value and we have engaged BofA Securities to assist us in the process,” the company said in a news release. LMP’s stock was trading at $5.55 a share about 2:45 p.m. Monday. It had been trading at more than $20 a share within the past year. Last month, LMP said it also sold property in Plantation, Fla., for about $4 million, according to a regulatory filing. LMP hasn’t reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of this year and has said it will restate financial results for the first three quarters of 2021. The company also faces a possible class-action lawsuit, and has filed lawsuits seeking the return of deposits it made for acquisitions that it terminated. Dealership Buy-SellDealership Buy-Sell: This Automotive News feature lists dealership acquisitions as reported by brokers, news media and official announcements. See our list of buy-sells and submit details of your deals here. LMP, in a separate regulatory filing Monday, said it terminated its CFO Robert Bellaflores on Thursday. The auto retailer said it has started a search to replace Bellafores, who was named CFO just a year ago in July 2021. The company’s CEO Samer Tawfik will serve as interim CFO until a replacement is named, the company said.  Source: Automotive News

EGR USA Names VP of Sales/Marketing, Aftermarket Division

Automotive aftermarket and truck accessory leader, Mike Timmons, has been selected to serve as the new vice president of sales and marketing, aftermarket division for EGR USA. EGR manufactures premium automotive accessories for more than 50 original equipment manufacturers and the automotive aftermarket including fender flares, hood guards, body side moldings, truck cab spoilers, window visors, sports bars and more. With a focus on vertical integration and manufacturing produced in the USA, EGR products are sold at over 100 leading retailers nationwide. Timmons, as the former executive vice president for AXC Inc., was a key member of the leadership team responsible for creating a new brand and building customer loyalty for AXC fender flares and truck accessories, developed pricing policies and pricing structures for all sales channels, and strengthened customer service. Recognized for his business development skills he managed all content creation, social media platforms, email strategies, promos and coordinated rep agency sales efforts. Entrenched in truck aftermarket accessory experience, Timmons also formerly worked for Truck Hero Inc., now branded as RealTruck, as vice president of Jeep and off-road. There he implemented highly effective new sales and product development strategies to grow key accounts; growing their top and bottom-line business for multiple brands. EGR CEO Simon McLellan, says, “Mike’s proven record in branding, innate understanding of customer and market opportunities, researched based business development and creative sales processes makes him an ideal fit for EGR North America. While EGR has an esteemed accessory position with OEMs, our aftermarket division has potential to grow. Mike specializes in recognizing the potential of companies and building a brand that can capture market share. We are excited to have him at the helm of our aftermarket division.” Timmons says, “EGR is on the cusp of incredible growth. The products are some of the most well engineered and manufactured I have seen on the market. I am excited to have full reign to brand, market and build sales for EGR. Look for exciting news from EGR soon on multiple fronts – pricing integrity and new products.” Timmons was hired in June and will work remotely from his home in Washougal, Washington.   Source: Aftermarket News

VW names Scott Keogh CEO of Scout EV brand; Pablo Di Si new VW of America CEO

Volkswagen Group of America CEO Scott Keogh will leave the brand and take over as the first CEO of the German automaker’s nascent Scout electric vehicle brand, the automaker said Tuesday. Pablo Di Si, 52, who has headed VW’s South American region, becomes CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and CEO of Volkswagen North American Region. Keogh, 53, has been CEO of VW of America since November 2018, following his tenure as president of Audi of America. When he was appointed, he was the first American to lead the brand’s U.S. operations in 25 years. “Scott Keogh and Pablo Di Si both have played key roles in turning around the businesses in their respective regions, North America and South America,” Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess said in a written statement. “In their future positions, they will be pivotal in helping the Group seize the historic market opportunities in the U.S., taking our growth strategy in the region to the next level.” Keogh will turn over his responsibilities Sept. 1 to take over Scout, VW said. Di Si’s successor in Volkswagen South America will be announced in the near future, the company said. Keogh had given some private hints that he may be in line to lead’s Scout’s resurrection since it was announced by the German automaker in May. Keogh on Tuedsay said Scout is, right now, “a company of one person,” namely him, and that establishing such a startup is something that appeals to him. “It was a simple, straightforward decision: Either, one, stay in my existing role and continue to operate and do it accordingly and keep rocking and rolling, or take the chance of a lifetime to do a startup company,” Keogh told reporters during a quick conference call Tuesday from a board meeting in Chattanooga. “I think if you’re an American and a businessman and person of humanity, in my mind, it was no choice: to do a startup, to be entrepreneurial, and to revive an iconic American brand.” Keogh took no questions about Scout’s future operations, but said the brand would show its first concepts in 2023 and that it would take advantage of the savings from being part of the VW Group. He did not discuss how Scout would ultimately be distributed in the U.S., which has been a bone of contention with VW dealers since the May announcement. “It’s certainly something I want to do. And so obviously, what do you have to do? You have to bring this brand to life. You have to bring the team on board. And unfortunately I have to bring a product to the marketplace that people love,” Keogh said. Keogh said Scout being “independent” would give the brand “the flexibility to seek strategic partners” and the “flexibility to potentially go to the capital markets, and do all of the things that can come over time.”  Source: Automotive News

Original One Parts Announces 2 Executive Appointments

Original One Parts, a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, today announced that veteran automotive sales leader David Merrell has joined the company as vice president of National Sales. In addition, Original One Parts has promoted Brian Driehorst to the newly created position of senior vice president of global procurement. “We’re excited to welcome David Merrell to the company as our national sales leader,” said Rick Keister, chairman of Original One Parts. “We’re confident David’s experience in business development and building relationships with large and small MSOs will be a major factor in Original One’s future success. “As part of our commitment to continued growth, we are excited to promote Brian Driehorst to oversee our global procurement and supply chain initiatives. The combination of David and Brian working together as peers promises to further accelerate our advancement across all markets.” Merrell recently held the role of vice president of MSO Sales for OPUS IVS. Previously, he worked with the automotive diagnostics provider asTech, a Repairify company, which is part of the Kinderhook portfolio. Driehorst has a wealth of experience across the entire spectrum of the industry. He has been part of Original One Parts for more than five years in various executive roles and previously worked at AIG and QCSA where he started his automotive aftermarket career in 2005.   Source: Aftermarket News

FinditParts Hires Ron Hendrixson as Chief People Officer

FinditParts, a supplier of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts online, has announced the hiring of Ron Hendrixson as chief people officer (CPO). Prior to joining FinditParts, Hendrixson served as the chief talent officer at Galiher & Hendrixson and brings more than 30 years of recruiting experience to this role. Before Galiher & Hendrixson, he held multiple senior recruiting titles at different companies, including vice president of Talent Acquisition at JCPenney and co-founder and general manager at Walker Talent Group LLC. “As we grow, recruiting and the effective scaling of our company will be critical to our success,” said David Seewack, CEO and founder of FinditParts. “Ron’s deep experience growing and scaling companies will help us rapidly add skilled, passionate, entrepreneurial people to our existing team.” Hendrixson will serve as FinditParts’ point person for recruiting and talent growth, workplace culture, remote workforce efficiency, organizational development and structure, management support, organizational strategy and more. “Over the next several months, Ron will be organizing a powerful recruiting team, systems and processes to accomplish the organizational growth we have planned moving forward,” said Robert Blatt, president of FinditParts. “We are excited to have Ron as the newest member of our leadership team.” Hendrixson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California San Diego, and a master’s degree in management from Pepperdine University.   Source: Aftermarket News

VSE Corp. Appoints 2 New Board Members

VSE Corporation, a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for land, sea and air transportation assets for government and commercial markets, has announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Anita D. Britt and Lloyd E. Johnson were each appointed to the VSE Board of Directors as independent directors, effective July 19, 2022. Ms. Britt and Mr. Johnson will join the VSE Board as part of the Board’s succession planning and potential retirements of existing board members. “We are pleased to welcome both Anita and Lloyd to the VSE Board of Directors,” stated General Ralph E. Eberhart, chairman of VSE. “Both incoming directors are accomplished finance executives with decades of commercial experience at respected, world-class public companies committed to delivering long-term value for shareholders. We are confident they will provide valuable perspectives integral to our continued, profitable growth.” “Over the last three years, VSE has undergone a successful business transformation, prioritizing leadership within higher-margin verticals, product and capabilities expansions and opportunistic investments in high-return, adjacent markets,” stated John Cuomo, president and CEO of VSE. “As our business continues to evolve, we are committed to ensuring that our Board composition is diverse, with a variety of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and perspectives represented. We are excited to welcome Anita and Lloyd to the Board during this next chapter of growth.” Anita D. Britt. Ms. Britt brings a wealth of corporate finance, capital markets and board-level experience. Previously, she served as the Chief Financial Officer for Perry Ellis International and held senior financial leadership positions at Jones Apparel Group and Urban Brands. She currently serves on the board of directors for urban-gro, Smith & Wesson Brands and Delta Apparel. Ms. Britt is a Certified Public Accountant; a Board Leadership Fellow as designated by the National Association of Corporate Directors; and holds a Carnegie Mellon Cybersecurity Oversight Certification. Lloyd E. Johnson. Mr. Johnson brings a strong background in management consulting, mergers and acquisitions, internal audit and commercial operations experience. Previously, Mr. Johnson served as Global Managing Director, Finance and Internal Audit at Accenture Corporation; Executive Director, M&A and General Auditor for Delphi Automotive PLC; and held senior financial leadership positions at Emerson Electric Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation and Shaw Food Services. Mr. Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant and holds the National Association of Corporate Directors Directorship Certification designation. Mr. Johnson is currently a board member for Haemonetics Corporation, Apogee Enterprises, Beazer Homes USA, and AARP. Following these new appointments and potential retirements, the VSE Board will return to nine directors, eight of whom are independent, and four of whom are members of diverse communities.   Source: Aftermarket News

VW Group CEO Herbert Diess to leave company; Porsche’s Oliver Blume named successor

Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess is stepping down and Porsche boss Oliver Blume will take over Diess’s role, VW said on Friday in a surprise shake-up at the world’s second-biggest automaker. Diess is resigning “by mutual agreement,” VW said. Blume, who will continue his role as the head of the Porsche brand, will be flanked by VW’s current Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz, who will assume the position of chief operating officer.  The changes are effective Sept. 1, VW said. Diess’ future at Volkswagen has been in doubt on multiple occasions during his four-year stint as CEO, most recently late last year over clashes with the company’s powerful works council about his electrification strategy and management style. His departure comes as the company is pushing to beat Tesla to become the world’s top electric vehicle maker, catch up on software and execute an IPO for Porsche. Diess, in a LinkedIn post before the announcement of his departure, said: “After a really stressful first half of 2022 many of us are looking forward to a well-deserved summer break.” “My focus will be on the customers, brands and products,” Blume said in a statement. Diess, 63, was hired away from BMW Group in 2015, shortly before VW admitted to rigging millions of diesel vehicles to skirt emissions rules. He’s arguably pushed the most aggressive electrification effort among legacy car manufacturers, earning plaudits from the likes of Tesla Inc. boss Elon Musk. Blume, 54, has been touted as a potential successor to Diess for some time, even though any changeover was seen some time off after the outgoing CEO’s contract was extended until 2025. Blume started at VW as a trainee at Audi, then rose through the ranks at Seat and the VW brand before joining Porsche in 2013 as head of production. He managed to largely contain Porsche’s involvement in VW’s diesel-emissions scandal. The sports-car maker received diesel engines from sister brand Audi, which didn’t comply with emission regulations.  Source: Automotive News

Bosch Names Regional President for Powertrain Solutions

Bosch in North America has named Peter Tadros as the new regional president of its Powertrain Solutions division in North America. The Powertrain Solutions division at Bosch groups together all of the company’s expertise in the area of powertrain, supporting passenger car, commercial and off-road market segments with a broad portfolio of products and services. A seasoned leader with experience with Bosch in Germany and North America, Tadros assumes leadership of the Powertrain Solutions business in North America. He is responsible for manufacturing, engineering, finance and sales in the North American region. “We are at a transformational time in the region with major shifts happening related to the powertrain,” said Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America. “Peter has built a diverse background in his more than 20 years at Bosch that empower him to build on our established success in the area of propulsion solutions.” Previously, Tadros was global president of Port Fuel Injection for Bosch in Stuttgart, Germany, and also served as regional business unit leader for Port Fuel and Gasoline Direct Injection in North America. Since joining Bosch in 2001, Tadros has held leadership roles in program management, business development, marketing and executive business unit management in the U.S. and Germany. Most recently, Tadros has been responsible for building up the company’s powertrain manufacturing capacity in North America. Bosch is ramping up production in North America to support powertrain electrification as part of the company’s investment and growth in the area of electromobility. At the same time, the facility also is experiencing growth in its ongoing support of the internal combustion engine. Bosch says it continues to offer its customers “technologically neutral” options for the powertrain with an enduring focus on increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. Sujit Jain retires from Bosch after more than 22 years with the company and 16 years in a regional president role. Jain has been a recognized leader in the powertrain industry for many years. He was a founding member of SAE’s North American International Propulsion Conference (NAIPC) in 2005. “Under Sujit’s leadership we have seen outstanding business development and transformation,” Mansuetti said. “We have seen tremendous growth in the areas of battery and fuel cell electrification, as well as in the internal combustion engine business for Bosch. He has set a strong foundation for our teams to continue success into the future under Peter’s direction.” When Bosch brought together its gasoline, diesel and electrification activities into one business unit as Powertrain Solutions in 2018, Jain was the first regional president for Powertrain Solutions in North America. Previously he served as regional president of the Gasoline Systems division for Bosch in North America for 11 years. Jain championed the implementation of gasoline direct injection technologies for the North American market. High-pressure, direct injection systems are a key enabler for engine turbocharging and downsizing, which lead to significant efficiency improvements for many vehicles on the road. Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, recently announced the company will be investing some $3.5 billion over three years in climate-neutral technology such as electrification and hydrogen. In 2021, the company’s global orders relating to electromobility exceeded $12 billion for the first time. The North American market is contributing to Bosch’s global growth with business from an extensive portfolio including e-machines, e-axles and power electronics. In the area of fuel cell, Bosch has once again increased its global capital expenditure for mobile fuel cells, to more than $1 billion USD between 2021 and 2024. This includes investments in the mobile fuel cell, where the company will produce both the fuel cell stack as well as components to support customers. Additionally, Bosch is also entering the components business for hydrogen electrolysis. The company recently announced plans to invest nearly $600 million in this new area of business by the end of the decade – half of it by the time of market launch, which is planned for 2025. The decentralized fuel cell is also a strategic focus area for Bosch. The Bosch Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) energy supply system can use both renewable fuels (hydrogen from wind or sun, for example) and conventional fuels (biomethane or natural gas) to generate electricity and heat.   Source: Aftermarket News

Automotive Parts Associates Appoints New Board Member

Automotive Parts Associates (APA), one of the nation’s fastest-growing automotive aftermarket buying groups, has announced the appointment of Gary Thibault to its board of directors. According to Thibault, his appointment is an opportunity to serve APA’s shareholders and members as well as working to ensure they receive the best products and prices. Steve Tucker, president of APA, went on to say, “With a career spanning more than 35 years in this industry, Gary is no novice. I see him as an asset to our exceptional leadership team, and I know he will hit the ground running.” Thibault joined The Partsman Inc. in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1990. He took ownership of the company in 2001.   Source: Aftermarket News

Schaeffler to buy Ewellix for $594M

Germany’s Schaeffler has agreed to buy Sweden’s Ewellix Group from investment company Triton for about 582 million euros ($594 million), the German supplier said in a statement. Schaeffler said the purchase continues the expansion of its industrial division and is expected to lift earnings in 2024. Ewellix, which makes components including telescopic lifting columns, employs nearly 1,200 people and generates about 250 million euros in annual revenue.  Source: Automotive News

BKT Announces Leadership Transition In US and Canada

Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), Indian multinational Group and a global player in the Off-Highway tire market, has announced today a leadership transition, effective Aug. 1 that leverages the breadth and depth of the company’s existing talent to promote continued growth. BKT has promoted Douglas C. Kershaw to president and Chris Rhoades to vice president, Off the Road (OTR) Business of BKT USA. In order to further strengthen the team, Alan Eskow, (vice president of BKT Canada), is appointed as vice president, Agri-Industrial Business of BKT USA, additionally he will continue to manage OEM sales in Canada. Minoo Mehta will continue to guide the U.S. team as a senior advisor and member of the Managing Committee. Furthermore, Shrikant Gadge is assigned additional responsibility as manager, sales, and marketing for BKT Tires in Canada. These appointments reflect BKT’s approach to leadership development and strategic planning to ensure the company has the best conditions for continued growth and success. “Both Douglas Kershaw and Chris Rhoades are an invaluable part of BKT and have been actively expanding BKT’s presence in key sectors in the USA, such as construction and mining. Alan’s appointment to the USA team will accelerate our efforts in the agriculture business. Under the guidance of Minoo Mehta, I am confident that this team’s leadership will continue to do an incredible job” said Arvind Poddar, chairman and managing director, Balkrishna Industries Ltd. “I’m positive that Shrikant Gadge’s addition to the talented Canada team will further strengthen our market.” Commenting on the transition, Poddar concluded, “BKT deeply believes in ‘Growing Together’ and nurturing our talent. It is our DNA to anchor growth opportunities for our employees and enable them to contribute toward organizational goals to their fullest potential. BKT is people’s brand.”   Source: Aftermarket News

Lucid adds business, logistics execs as EV maker expands to Europe, Middle East

Lucid Group has recruited two industry veterans to its leadership team as the California electric vehicle startup launches in major U.S. cities and prepares to expand to Europe and the Middle East. Evelyn Chiang, a former Tesla vice president, has been named Lucid’s vice president of process transformation, the automaker said. Walter Ludwig, previously head of logistics at Mercedes-Benz Argentina, has taken the role of vice president of global logistics at Lucid. “I’m delighted to have Evelyn and Walter join the Lucid leadership team,” Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson said in a press release last week. “Together, they bring decades of global expertise and operational excellence to the company.” The new executives report directly to Rawlinson. According to their LinkedIn profiles, Chiang started at Lucid in June and Ludwig in May. Chiang will lead initiatives “to analyze, harmonize, and improve business processes across the organization,” the automaker said. Ludwig will focus on “best practices in automotive logistics and parts management” and working with suppliers. Lucid has struggled to ramp production of its first vehicle, the Air executive sedan, at its factory near Phoenix. U.S. registration data from Experian through May shows just 827 Air sedans registered in the five-month period. Lucid has cited supply chain constraints and problems with parts quality. The automaker will report second-quarter financial results on Aug. 3. Its stock price since the start of the year has fallen by about 50 percent. Lucid is estimating factory output this year at 12,000 to 14,000 vehicles, far short of the more than 30,000 reservations it has for various Air models. Chiang worked as vice president of supply chain for Tesla from 2007 to 2010, according to her LinkedIn profile. Most recently, she served for 10 months as COO for software company Siteimprove and for four years at software firm SAP. “Ms. Chiang brings over 30 years of experience in a variety of industries transforming businesses, managing mass-scale programs, developing global supply chains, and deploying enterprise-wide automation solutions,” Lucid said in its press release. Ludwig has two decades of experience at Mercedes-Benz, according to his LinkedIn profile. “For the last 20 years, his main management focus has been ramping up and stabilizing manufacturing plants in Germany, China, Russia, Argentina, and the United States,” Lucid said. The direct-to-consumer retailer Lucid has opened 28 retail and service locations in North America since its factory launch last year, and it is now expanding globally. In May, Lucid opened its first European location, in Germany, with stores planned in the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland this year, the company said. Lucid also plans to break ground this year on an assembly plant in Saudi Arabia, which owns a majority of Lucid shares through its sovereign wealth fund. The Saudi government has reached a deal with Lucid to purchase up to 100,000 EVs over the next decade, with the first deliveries next year, the company has said.  Source: Automotive News

New President Named for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America Inc. (YOHTA) has announced a change in leadership. Dhaval Nanavati, president of YOHTA, has made the decision to leave the company after 11 years with Yokohama/Alliance Tire Group. David Geraghty, who is currently global head of OE and Yokohama’s assembly business, has been appointed to serve as president of YOHTA effective July 25. Geraghty joined the company in August 2021 and has been instrumental in deepening the company’s relationships with OEMs and starting its assembly business from the ground up, the company says. Before joining the Yokohama group, he led the $3 billion OE business for Cummins Inc. and served as managing director of the company’s North American distribution business, which generated over $4.3 billion in sales. Geraghty will continue to be a member of the YOHT executive committee.   Source: Aftermarket News

BendPak Announces Senior Leadership Succession Plan

BendPak Inc., a global manufacturer and marketer of vehicle service equipment and specialty consumer products, has announced changes to its executive team, effective Aug. 3. President Don Henthorn, who has led the company since establishing it in 1965, will take on a more limited role in its daily operations as chairman emeritus. Jeff Kritzer will be promoted from executive vice president to succeed Henthorn as president and CEO. At the same time, Rudy Diaz will step up from vice president of information technology to executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO). Jim Fornear moves from financial controller to chief financial officer (CFO). Rounding out the leadership team, Javier Arias continues in the critical role of vice president of operations. Henthorn will be active in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless transition of leadership and will serve as a business mentor who will share his experience and wisdom. “All of us at BendPak are grateful for Don’s continued service to the company and his solid contributions to our success. We look forward to his ongoing guidance and direction during this transitionary period,” Kritzer said. “Since 1965, his leadership, mentoring style, and embodiment of our company values and traditions have helped establish our winning culture. We have some very big shoes to fill, but through his mentorship and shaping of our company’s work ethic and culture, we believe our market dominance will continue.” Kritzer has held many roles over the 40 years he has worked at BendPak, including national sales manager, president of sales and senior vice president of marketing. For the past three years as executive vice president, he has applied his experience to help grow BendPak’s multi-faceted brands and divisions. He has managed aggressive product development and engineering initiatives, enhanced supply chain and transportation efficiencies, increased distribution channels, and developed marketing strategies that have helped transform BendPak into a lifestyle brand. In addition to his work for BendPak, Kritzer also serves the industry as an active member of the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI), where he is chairman of the board of directors. “I am excited for Jeff to assume the president’s role as part of our long-term succession plan,” Henthorn said. “Jeff has been a driving force in the success of our company in the 40 years since he joined our organization. He is widely respected by our team for his hard work, integrity, and straightforward style, and with his continued leadership, he will be a superb steward of our culture. I am confident that with Jeff and the rest of the executive team in place, BendPak is well-positioned to continue delivering on our brand promise to better serve our customers around the world.” Global vehicle service equipment manufacturer BendPak Inc. announces changes to its executive team effective Aug. 3, 2022. President Don Henthorn (center), who has led the company since establishing it in 1965, will take on a more limited role in its daily operations as chairman emeritus. Jeff Kritzer will be promoted from executive vice president to succeed Henthorn as president and CEO. Rudy Diaz will step up from vice president of information technology to executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO). Jim Fornear moves from financial controller to chief financial officer (CFO). Javier Arias continues in the critical role of vice president of operations. From left to right: Diaz, Kritzer, Henthorn, Fornear, Arias. Diaz joined BendPak as vice president of information technology (IT) in June 2011. As executive vice president and COO, he will continue to enhance information technologies such as cloud computing and big data analytics to help streamline processes and increase productivity, while improving cybersecurity protections and security upgrades to reduce corporate risk. His COO role includes responsibilities across various departments, including human resources, operations, and office administration. Diaz has more than 30 years of experience in information technology and security. Prior to joining BendPak, he held a senior IT leadership position with American Tire Distributors (ATD), one of the largest independent tire distributors in North America. He also enjoyed a nearly two-decade tenure with Am-Pac Tire Distributors/Tire Pros, a nationwide wholesale distributor based in Simi Valley, California. Fornear has served as financial controller since joining BendPak in November 2019. As CFO, he will be instrumental in managing the company’s budgeting and forecasting processes, financial strategies, profitability, and risk management. Fornear began crafting his finance skills as a public accountant with a mid-size CPA firm in Southern California before joining John Deere, where he demonstrated leadership abilities in the manufacturing sector, delivering problem-solving and cost-effective management strategies. “These exciting leadership changes follow a multi-year succession planning process,” said Henthorn. “Managing BendPak and its many divisions and brands to ensure long-term growth requires a thoughtful and orderly succession-planning process. The board of directors and management have worked hard to identify and prepare our new generation of leaders to ensure continuity and, more importantly, to maintain and build upon our culture and core values.”   Source: Aftermarket News

Apple hires Lamborghini exec to work on its EV

Apple has enlisted one of Lamborghini’s top car-development managers in a sign that it’s stepping up work on a self-driving electric vehicle, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The company hired Luigi Taraborrelli, a 20-year veteran of the Italian brand, to help lead the design of Apple’s future vehicle, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is not public. Taraborrelli was most recently Lamborghini’s head of chassis and vehicle dynamics. The move is another signal that Apple is committed to producing a car following years of setbacks and upheaval. With his experience, Taraborrelli becomes one of the most senior managers on Apple’s EV team and brings some exotic-car panache to the effort. The executive worked on Lamborghini models such as the Urus, Huracan and Aventador, in addition to more limited models like the Huracan Sterrato off-road vehicle and Asterion concept car. He oversaw Lamborghini’s chassis development, as well as areas such as handling, suspensions, steering, brakes and rims, according to his LinkedIn profile. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the hire. Earlier this year, Apple tapped a 31-year Ford veteran to lead its vehicle-safety efforts. Last year, the technology company hired Ulrich Kranz, the former chief of struggling electric-car maker Canoo and former leader of BMW’s electric-car business. Before that, Apple enlisted former Tesla Autopilot chief Stuart Bowers to work on self-driving technology. The Apple project includes hundreds of former engineers from Tesla and other car companies, including Rivian, Alphabet’s Waymo, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. It also has former senior design executives on staff from Tesla, McLaren, Porsche and Aston Martin. The company is aiming to introduce a car around 2025 with a design that lets riders face each other in a limousine-like interior, Bloomberg has reported. Apple has grand ambitions to create a car without a steering wheel or pedals, relying instead on fully autonomous technology, though many team members and industry watchers doubt such a move is possible on its current schedule. Even with the recent hires, the team has lost key talent, including the former head of the project, Doug Field, and artificial intelligence specialist Ian Goodfellow. Field had joined Apple in 2018 after leading vehicle programs at Tesla. He left the iPhone maker to join Ford after about three years, a relatively short period for an Apple executive in charge of a major initiative. The car project is currently run by Kevin Lynch, who also oversees the company’s Apple Watch and health software teams, and John Giannandrea, the company’s head of machine learning. Apple has been working on an electric car since at least 2014, but the project has been plagued by turmoil, including leadership turnover, strategy changes and layoffs. Apple and Lamborghini have some history together. In 2020, the automaker released an Apple-based augmented reality feature to help people preview the Huracan EVO RWD Spyder. At the time, Apple’s head of marketing said the company “cares deeply” about Lamborghini.  Source: Automotive News

Michelin Appoints New Motorsports Director for North America

Michelin North America has named Jason Anzalone director of motorsports, effective Aug. 1, succeeding Tony Ménard, who is returning to Michelin headquarters in France after three years in North America. Anzalone has served in several positions during his 11-year Michelin career, most recently as a strategic account director for Discount Tire and Tire Rack. Anzalone started his career in the automotive industry as a mechanic, working predominantly with Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari, the company says. He has worked closely with the motorsport teams since May to help prepare for his new role.  Ménard helped advance Michelin’s involvement in IMSA sports-car racing, including the new Porsche Carrera Cup partnership. In his three years, Michelin Motorsports says it was able to support all IMSA races through the pandemic. Under Ménard’s leadership, BFGoodrich achieved the 100th overall Score Baja victory and introduced the first 18-in. Baja T/A KR3 for Trophy Truck and Unlimited Truck classes. His tenure also includes three Baja 500 wins, two Baja 1000 wins, three Mint 400 wins and a victory at King of Hammers. Lastly, he helped continue the partnership of the Mazda MX-5 Cup, which highlights the development and competition of up-and-coming drivers, the company says.   Source: Aftermarket News

Sales chief Randy Parker named CEO of Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor Co. is making key executive shifts, including the appointment of Randy Parker as CEO of Hyundai Motor America. The changes follow the expansion of responsibilities for Jose Muñoz, who is global COO of Hyundai Motor Co. as well as CEO of Hyundai Motor North America. Parker will be responsible for leading Hyundai’s commercial automotive operations in the U.S. and will report directly to Muñoz, the automaker said in a statement on Thursday. He is one of the first African Americans to be named CEO of an automaker in a regional market. He’s also the second Black CEO named in the U.S. auto industry this month. On July 12, Lordstown Motors Corp. named Edward Hightower as its new CEO — the first Black CEO of a U.S. automaker in more than 100 years. In his current role as senior vice president of national sales for Hyundai Motor America, which he assumed in 2021, Parker has had oversight of all aspects of sales and distribution. Bob Kim, who is currently general manager for Hyundai’s southern region, will assume the national sales role and report to Parker. At the same time, Hyundai said it is promoting Tedros Mengiste, executive director of sales operations at Genesis Motor America, Hyundai’s luxury arm, to vice president of sales operations for Genesis. Mengiste will continue to run sales, production, distribution, incentives and field operations in the U.S. and continue to report directly to Genesis COO Claudia Marquez. Edgar Carranza will become CEO of Hyundai Motor de Mexico, charged with oversight of commercial automotive operations in the region. Carranza, currently COO, will report directly to Munoz. All the appointments take effect Monday. Under Parker’s sales leadership during a period of industrywide inventory shortages, the Hyundai brand logged 738,081 U.S. sales in 2021, a 19 percent increase over 2020. Hyundai also grew U.S. market share from 4.3 percent in 2020 to 4.9 percent in 2021. This year through June, Hyundai sales accounted for 5 percent of the U.S. market. “I have no doubt [Parker] will continue to strengthen the full Hyundai team and our dealer network,” Munoz said in a statement. Before working for Hyundai, Parker was vice president of Infiniti North America, in charge of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In his three decades in the auto industry, he also has held leadership roles at Nissan, General Motors and GM Acceptance Corp.   Source: Automotive News