COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Hytec DeBartolo LLC has named Bob Van Gorkom president of its North American aftermarket business operations. In this new role, Van Gorkom will report directly to Hytec Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Denis Bruncak.

Commenting on the appointment Bruncak said, “Since joining the Hytec team five years ago, Bob’s executive management skills, commitment to the Hytec brand and dedication to our customer’s requirements, have made a significant impact on the growth of our organization. Bob’s keen insight and valuable aftermarket industry experience will be critical to our success as we move forward.”

As president of Hytec, Van Gorkom’s main responsibility will be to ensure that Hytec remains focused in its pursuit of new products and technologies to support its primary position as a supplier of automotive and heavy-duty aftermarket water pumps. Prior to this appointment, Van Gorkom served the past five years as vice-president of sales and marketing for Hytec, during which time the company maintained a strong market share despite unstable industry conditions. Previous to joining Hytec in 2005, Van Gorkom spent more than 30 years in the automotive industry and held several leadership positions with such companies as Lucas Industries, Autospecialty and TRW Automotive.

“I am extremely pleased and proud to lead the men and women that are the Hytec team. I look forward to the challenges ahead and firmly believe in the Hytec DeBartolo brand, as well as the future of the automotive aftermarket, in general,” said Van Gorkom. “From our state-of-the-art Chinese manufacturing facility to our international distribution center in Columbus, Ohio, the Hytec brand shall remain dedicated to maintaining the highest-quality manufacturing standards and most importantly to exceed our customer’s expectations.”