NEW HAVEN, CT -- Proliance International has announced the appointment of current director Barry Banducci as chairman of the board. Banducci will succeed Paul Lederer who is stepping down from that position. Lederer will retain his position as a member of the board of directors.

Banducci has served on the company’s board of directors since 1995 and previously held the position of chairman of the board from September 1995 to August 2005. Previously, Banducci served as vice chairman of the board of The Equion Corp., a manufacturer of automotive products, from 1984 to 1996, and as president and chief executive officer of Equion from 1988 to 1994.

Commenting on Banducci’s appointment, Charles Johnson, president and CEO of Proliance, said, “We are pleased that Barry will serve as Chairman of Proliance’s Board of Directors. With his extensive experience in the automotive industry, both with public and private companies, Barry is exceptionally well qualified to lead our board. We also express our appreciation to Paul for his leadership over the past two years and are grateful that he will continue to help guide the company as a board member going forward.”