The board of directors of Dana Holding Corp. has named James Kamsickas to be president and CEO of the company, effective Aug. 11. Kamsickas held the same position at global automotive supplier International Automotive Components (IAC) Group since 2012, after serving as CEO and president, North America and Asia, since 2007, when the company was established. He will also serve as a director of Dana. To learn more about his replacement at IAC, click here.
Kamsickas succeeds Roger Wood, who in January announced his plans to retire. Wood will continue as a member of the company’s board of directors through a transition period.
“Jim Kamsickas has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills with a sharp focus on operational excellence, as well as organic and inorganic expansion. In his eight years as a CEO, Jim’s record includes the successful integration of a number of strategic acquisitions,” said Joseph Muscari, Dana’s non-executive chairman. “The board conducted a careful and thorough search and determined that Jim’s vision and leadership talents make him the best choice to build on the profitable growth strategy of geographic expansion, new product innovation, acquisition and operational excellence set by Roger Wood and the board.
“I would also like to thank Roger for his exceptional record of service. Under his strong leadership, he guided the company through a challenging economic environment and established our strategic direction to create an efficient, highly innovative and rigorous competitor. We know he will ensure the smoothest possible transition,” Muscari added.
Kamsickas said, “Dana’s commitment to technological innovation and customer service has made it an industry standard bearer and a company I have long admired. Its global focus and exceptional engineering position Dana to create attractive growth opportunities in key strategic markets. I look forward to working with the Dana team and to helping lead the company to a new chapter of growth and operational excellence.”
Kamsickas has more than 25 years of global automotive and business experience. Under his leadership, IAC expanded around the globe, creating new manufacturing facilities and/or technical centers in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea and Thailand. Since the original foundation-building acquisitions of Lear Corp.’s Interiors Systems Division and Collins & Aikman, as well as 15 additional strategic acquisitions in key regions around the world, IAC has grown to $5.9 billion in 2014 sales, more than 32,000 employees and more than 100 global locations.
Previously the head of Lear Corp.’s Interior Systems Division, Kamsickas held a number of leadership roles within that organization, including vice president in its General Motors, Ford and Chrysler customer divisions and vice president of operations of Lear’s seating, electrical, and interiors divisions. He also served in several key positions in the development of Lear’s European operations, including international assignments in Germany, Sweden and Austria.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Kamsickas earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s of business administration from Michigan State University.
