SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Schwartz Advisors LLC, a mergers and acquisitions advisory and management consulting firm focused on the automotive aftermarket, has announced that Derek Kaufman has joined the organization as partner, and Paul Johnson also has been appointed consulting advisor to the company.
Derek Kaufman is a veteran transportation industry executive who has worked in a variety of roles including engineering, sales and marketing and senior executive positions for companies including Penske, Daimler Benz and Freightliner. He also is a successful entrepreneur and adviser to private equity and venture capital firms.
Kaufman is an expert on heavy-duty aftermarket and vehicle telematics. He has been responsible for product development, sales and marketing, and also worked on the development and distribution of telematics products for the trucking industry. Kaufman is currently CEO of Mission Motors, a San Francisco-based designer of electric drive powertrains and telematics systems.
“We are very excited to have Derek join our team to lead our efforts in heavy-duty and telematics,” said Rick Schwartz, managing partner, Schwartz Advisors. “Derek is an acknowledged authority in the heavy-duty segment and a sought-after speaker and writer. As an executive, Derek’s career reflects numerous achievements as a leader, and more recently Derek has been at the forefront of vehicle connectivity and the development of cutting-edge electric drive vehicles.”
“I am excited to be associated with Schwartz Advisors and the high level of value they bring to their clients,” said Kaufman.
Paul Johnson has been appointed to a new category called “consulting
advisor” at Schwartz Advisors. As consulting advisor to the Schwartz Advisors team, Johnson will be working on select projects that leverage his extensive industrial background in manufacturing, finance, business development and distribution.
Most recently, Johnson was vice president, North American aftermarket for Federal-Mogul and before that spent several years at General Motors in progressive domestic and international management roles including responsibility for ACDelco, its global independent aftermarket parts and services business in the U.S. and more than 100 additional countries around the world. Johnson has served on several industry councils including the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association board of directors, the University of the Aftermarket Board of Trustees and the Automotive Sales Council.
“Paul is the first consulting advisor to join the Schwartz Advisors organization,” said Rick Schwartz. "We are fortunate to have an experienced executive of his caliber on our team to advise our clients and business partners throughout the aftermarket."
“I am honored that Schwartz Advisors has asked for my help and support,” said Johnson. “I have long believed that the roster of Schwartz Advisors reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of the automotive aftermarket and I look forward to being part of their network and developing new business opportunities for their clients in the vehicle aftermarket.”
