NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Proliance International has named Arthur “Butch” Smith director of product and new business development for Ready-Aire, the company’s line of air conditioning and temperature control products for the automotive and light truck aftermarket in the U.S.
Smith will be headquartered at Arlington, Texas, where the company’s center of operations for its domestic air conditioning business is located.
“Butch brings to Proliance his formidable experience in the temperature control market,” said William Long III, Proliance’s executive vice president, domestic business. “He has a long track record in improving sales and profits through successful brand and product management, quality customer service, innovative marketing programs and sustaining change. Butch’s responsibilities at Ready-Aire will include leadership for strategic sourcing, content, pricing, cataloging and marketing, as well as support to our entire sales team for temperature control products.”
Smith served from 1986-2007 on the board of directors of the Mobile Air Conditioning Society and as chairman from 2004-2007. He is the recipient of the International Mobile Air Conditioning Association’s “Pioneer Award.” Most recently, he was vice president of sales and marketing for Precision Automotive Industries, of Wylie, Texas, in charge of sales and marketing of remanufactured starters, alternators and mobile air conditioning compressors to aftermarket and automotive parts companies.
Smith has been active in the automotive air conditioning marketplace since 1978. Prior to joining Proliance, he served as vice president of procurement and logistics at Sanden International (USA), Inc., where he led a 76-person team that planned all production, purchased all parts, received, warehoused and shipped all production parts and finished goods to support $340 million in annual sales. Smith has also been responsible for the sales and marketing of air conditioning compressors for Selective Technology, Inc. and Universal Air Conditioner, Inc.
