PORTLAND, Ore. -- PIAA-USA Corp., a manufacturer of high-quality auxiliary driving lights and fog lights, headlamp upgrade bulbs, accessory-lighting equipment, light-pods, silicone wiper blades and wheels for the automotive, motorsports, motorcycle and ATV markets, has just named automotive industry sales and marketing veteran Rodger Wagner as its executive vice president.

The appointment was announced by Yoshitake Shimizu, president, PIAA-USA Corp., who noted that Wagner will be responsible for managing all corporate administrative duties and activities, as well as sales and marketing functions, including all marketing activities, inventory, warehousing, new product introductions and more.

In making the announcement, Shimizu said, "Rodger has a very accomplished record in the automotive market, having served in a wide variety of executive capacities in management, sales and marketing. In addition to successful tenures with several leading industry manufacturers, he also worked as an independent sales representative and ran his own rep sales organization. We are very excited to have his expertise and experience at PIAA, and look to him to expand our sales base and overall share of market."

Shimizu added that Wagner has established many valuable contacts within the industry over the years, and that the company was looking forward to taking advantage of his excellent marketing talent to increase distribution and acquire new customers for PIAA-USA.

Most recently, Wagner worked with Multi Parts Supply USA (MPS), a co-manufacturer of automotive parts for U.S. aftermarket parts manufacturers and suppliers. He was director of Korean parts sales since 2004.

In 1997, Wagner joined KYB Corporation of America (later named KYB America LLC) and served as its vice president of sales and marketing until 2004. During that time, he was instrumental in rebranding KYB Gas Shocks as a premium choice for both import and domestic vehicles and helped to dramatically increase both market share and penetration for the brand in the NAFTA region.

Before KYB, Wagner was president of R.L. Wagner and Associates, an aftermarket rep organization. He also previously held several senior management positions at Tenneco Automotive and the Robert Bosch Corp.

A veteran U.S. Marine, Wagner holds a BS degree from West Liberty State University and has earned many automotive industry program certifications.