Executive Interview with Carl Brown, President of Hella Inc.
Carl Brown is president of Hella Inc. and vice president of Behr Hella Service in North America. He also is director of Hella’s NAFTA – Aftermarket Region. As president of Hella Inc., Brown is responsible for both U.S. and Canada’s OE market and aftermarket. As director of NAFTA, he also oversees the aftermarket for Hellamex – Hella’s sales company in Mexico City. In today’s Executive Interview, Brown talks in detail about the unique partnership between Hella and Behr, known as Behr Hella Service; how the company maintains its strong position; and also where he sees thermal management headed in the future.
Herman Trend Alert: Employee Loyalty Declines Worldwide
Several recent studies have reinforced our belief that employee loyalty is declining around the world. The most recent evidence comes from the well-respected consultancy Mercer in its 2011 “What’s Working” survey released just last week.
Herman Trend Alert: Boomers Realigning Values
This realignment of values will have a wide-ranging impact on consumer goods and services, travel, tourism, home and real estate, health and wellness and politics and current affairs.
Executive Interview with Dennis Samfilippo, General Manager, Philips Lighting North America
This week’s Executive Interview features Dennis Samfilippo, general manager, Philips Lighting North America, who shares with us the latest technologies Philips Automotive Lighting will unveil this week at AAPEX.
Herman Trend Alert: Sounding a Global Warning About Youth Unemployment Numbers
With a global population of 7 billion people, it is important to realize that more than 28 percent are between the ages of 15 and 24. Today, we highlight a significant societal problem: youth unemployment.
Executive Interview with Bo Fisher, Chairman, Owner and CEO of Fisher Auto Parts
Bo Fisher is the third-generation owner, chairman and CEO of Fisher Auto Parts. Since becoming president in 1992, he has surrounded himself with a team of talented people, who have built the company into one of the top automotive chains in the country with approximately 380 locations and more than 3,200 employees in 16 states. In addition to his role at Fisher Auto Parts, Fisher has served as chairman of the board of Federated Auto Parts since the mid-1990s. Under the leadership of a broad group of people and members, Federated Auto Parts continues to thrive as one of the largest program marketing groups in North America. In this exclusive AMN Executive Interview, Fisher shares his thoughts on the future of distribution as well as the keys to Federated’s steady growth of the past several years.
Executive Interview with Hiroshi Otsubo and Takahiro Goshima of ADVICS
In today’s Executive Interview, Hiroshi Otsubo, senior managing director, ADVICS Co. Ltd., and Takahiro Goshima, managing officer, ADVICS North America Inc., discuss the recent announcement that ADVICS will take over aftermarket management of the AISIN brake products line. The two senior executives clarify what this change means for the role of the company in the North American market as well as what it means for customers.
Herman Trend Alert: Consumers Worldwide Demand More Corporate Social Responsibility
Consumers report they are already voting with their wallets and loyalty to make these demands felt.
Executive Interview with Helmut Engel, Head of the ContiTech Power Transmission Group’s Automotive Aftermarket Segment
In April, Helmut Engel, head of ContiTech Power Transmission Group’s global Automotive Aftermarket business, celebrated 40 years with the Continental Group. After his commercial apprenticeship with the Hanover, Germany-based supplier and subsequent study of business administration, Engel worked for the Power Transmission Group in various capacities. Since the early 1990s, he has been one of the driving forces behind building up the aftermarket business into an important mainstay for the company. In today’s Executive Interview, Engel tells us about some exciting new products from ContiTech and also discusses the important fight against piracy.
Guest Commentary: John Passante Asks, ‘Are You Providing Customer Service or Lip Service?’
According to a Harvard Management update by Bain & Co., “Eighty percent of companies believe they deliver a superior customer experience, but only 8 percent of their customers agree.” What is your customer satisfaction index?
Executive Interview with Mike Fitzgerald, Vice President of Marketing, Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP)
Michael Fitzgerald was elected vice president of marketing for Standard Motor Products in May 2007. From July 2003 to May 2007, he held a variety of sales and marketing positions in the company, including director of sales and marketing – NAPA. Prior to 2003, he worked for Echlin/Dana (acquired by SMP in 2003) as a territory salesman, zone manager, retail marketing manager and vice president of marketing. In this week’s Executive Interview, Fitzgerald talks about the role of the Intermotor brand in the SMP family and the opportunities in the import nameplate market today. He also talks about other areas of recent growth for the company: the launch of the new TechSmart brand and the company’s acquisition of the BLD Engine Controls business.
Executive Interview: AAIA’s Scott Luckett Shares Details on the Upcoming Supply Chain Benchmarking Exercise
Last week, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) announced the second round of its supply chain benchmarking exercise, in collaboration with the Supply Chain Council. Today, Scott Luckett, MAAP, AAIA’s vice president, technology standards, provides a few more details about the project in the hopes of enticing a few suppliers, retailers and distributors to participate. Read on to find out why getting involved is a great idea for your business and the aftermarket as a whole.