Accuride Corp. announced it has realigned its leadership team to support its planned expansion as a supplier of high-quality wheel end solutions to the global commercial vehicle industry. Over the past four years, Accuride has repositioned itself as a strategic and competitive business partner capable of supporting the needs of its key OEM customers in markets around the globe. Previously, a supplier of commercial vehicle components only in North America, Accuride recently acquired a majority stake in Italian steel-wheel manufacturer Gianetti Ruote S.r.l., in partnership with CLN S.p.A., as the first step in the company’s strategic expansion as a global wheel end solutions supplier.

Scott Hazlett has been promoted to president, Wheels, continuing to report to President and CEO Rick Dauch. Hazlett will be responsible for integrating the Gianetti Ruote joint venture and leading the global growth of Accuride’s Wheels business. Hazlett previously served as senior vice president of operations, leading the operational restructuring and upgrade of the Gunite business, and the expansion of capacity and capability of Accuride’s steel and aluminum wheel business in North America. These production and process upgrades were central to Accuride’s successful turnaround strategy to boost operational performance to world-class levels on key metrics such as quality, delivery and lead-times. Hazlett joined Accuride in October 2011 following leadership roles in the agricultural and transportation industries with TriMas and Case Corp., and as a partner with industrial turnaround specialist Conway, Mackenzie & Dunleavy of Michigan.

Gregory Risch is promoted to president, Gunite, as part of Accuride’s executive leadership development and succession plan, and will continue reporting to Dauch. Risch will lead the restructured and resurgent Gunite business following capital investments and adoption of Lean manufacturing systems that upgraded plant production and processes, led to improved operating performance and returned the business to profitability. Risch has served as the company’s chief financial officer (CFO) since October 2011. During his 21-year Accuride career, Risch’s other leadership roles have included vice president and chief accounting officer, and director of financial planning and reporting.

Michael Hajost will join Accuride as senior vice president and chief financial officer, reporting to Dauch, effective Nov. 30. Until then, Risch will continue serving as CFO as he transitions into leading the Gunite business unit. Hajost brings more than 20 years of experience in global financing and treasury operations in both public and private-equity environments. He comes to Accuride having recently completed a seven-year tenure leading the treasury and investor relations functions for Carpenter Technology Corp., a $2.3 billion revenue international alloys and engineered products manufacturer in Reading, Pennsylvania. At Carpenter, Hajost had served as vice president, treasury and investor relations, with global responsibility for treasury, financing and risk management. Previously, he had served as vice president, treasurer for the $10 billion revenue-branded foods company JBS Swift & Co. of Greeley, Colorado, establishing a stand-alone treasury function for the Con-Agra spin-off. He began his corporate career with Eli Lilly and Co. of Indianapolis, Indiana, after completing five years of service as an officer in the U.S. Army. Hajost is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and earned his Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Chicago.

“Promoting Scott and Greg to lead our global Wheels and Gunite businesses, respectively, and adding Mike Hajost to the Accuride Leadership Team as CFO advances our vision to become the premier supplier of wheel end solutions to the global commercial vehicle industry,” said Dauch. “Under Scott and Greg’s leadership, we have transformed Accuride’s operational and financial performance, laying the foundation for our pursuit of strategic global growth that began with our recently announced acquisition of a majority stake in Gianetti Ruote S.r.l. of Italy. We are pleased to add Mike’s proven global finance and treasury experience to support our pursuit of long-term profitability and global expansion.”