LAS VEGAS – With three high-level additions and two internal changes, industry leader Remy Power Products (RPP) introduced its new world-class sales and marketing organization at the annual AAPEX trade show this week.

“Our goal is to provide our customers with the strongest support team in the industry. That has to start with customer-focused people who are knowledgeable, experienced and recognized as outstanding leaders,” said Jay Sanchez, president, Remy Power Products. “With some great additions to our already solid team we now have the organization in place that will strengthen current relationships and build new ones in the days ahead.”

At AAPEX, Sanchez announced the newest members of the RPP leadership team:

Robert Gracey has joined Remy Power Products as vice president of sales for WD. Gracey most recently served as senior vice president of sales with Affinia Under Vehicle Group and as national sales manager for The Timken Corp., prior to Affinia. Gracey will be leading RPP’s efforts to increase market share in the WD segment, an initiative to which the company has made a strong commitment.

Rafaat (Raf) Kureshi signed onto the Remy Power Products team as vice president of export. Kureshi most recently served as vice president of export sales and marketing at United Components Inc. and before that he served in the same capacity for Arvin Meritor. Taking advantage of his extensive international network, Kureshi already has begun implementing RPP’s new international sales and business development strategy.

F. David Bohr has joined Remy Power Products as director of category management. Bohr previously had leadership responsibilities in category management with Johnson Controls, Affinia Vehicle Group and TOPS (formerly Cardinal Brands). RPP has viewed category management as a key differentiator and Bohr has been hired to maintain RPP’s leadership position in this modern marketing discipline.

These three key individuals join a standing leadership team that has been enhanced through two strategic organizational changes.

Remy executive Jack Vollbrecht Jr. will now serve as the new senior vice president of business development as well as the chairman of the newly created Remy Customer Council. RPP will draw on Vollbrecht’s experience and knowledge of RPP and the industry to provide overall guidance and leadership. He has a proven track record of being able to foster strategic partnerships and share a clear vision of future market needs and opportunities.

Remy’s Tim Winkeler is now serving as the vice president of sales for retail. He is responsible for helping RPP's current trading partners grow their business and for identifying additional opportunities for RPP in the retail segment, where the company already leads the industry. Winkeler’s focus is a large contributing factor in driving Remy’s current leadership position in this segment. His effective leadership is expected to propel the retail segment to even greater heights.

“I am excited about the future of Remy Power Products and we are confident that this team has the ability and vision to take us to the next level of sales and marketing performance. We have added some excellent new people and made some structural changes that will build on the same quality, service and customer focus our organization has offered for years. Many great opportunities are on the horizon thanks to our first-class team, technologies and customer service,” said Sanchez.