IAC Group (International Automotive Components Group) has appointed Kevin Baird as its new CEO. Baird will replace David Prystash, who is retiring. The company said Baird joins IAC after most recently serving as chief operating officer of Tenneco, a global manufacturer of automotive products for OEM and aftermarket customers. At Tenneco, Baird was responsible for managing multi-national operations across 196 manufacturing sites with 71,000 global team members. Prior to joining Tenneco, Baird served as the president and CEO of Guardian Glass, LLC as well as the president and CEO of SRG Global, Inc, IAC said.
“We are delighted to welcome Kevin as our new chief executive,” said IAC’s Board Chair Phil Martens. “He is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who has a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record of delivering strong performance in the global automotive industry. He has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and in-depth experience managing all aspects required of a successful global Tier 1 automotive supplier.”
Baird added, “While the automotive landscape is rapidly evolving with electrification, IAC is a uniquely positioned supplier, focused on providing its customers with the highest quality interior components. The increased emphasis that all OEM’s are placing on interiors as a powertrain agnostic differentiator across platforms provides IAC with a unique opportunity to become a true leader in this area. I’m looking forward to partnering with IAC’s leadership team and its over 18,000 employees to continue producing best-in-class, innovative products to serve our customers.”
Michael Kreger, senior partner of Gamut Capital, an IAC investor, thanked Prystash for his tenure at IAC: “We appreciate David’s leadership throughout the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting semi-conductor chip shortage. David effectively navigated the business through these headwinds and leaves IAC well-positioned for continued success. We wish him even greater success as he embarks on the next chapter of his life”.
