ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. — Dura Automotive Systems has announced changes to its executive team that it says will strengthen the company in the global marketplace.
Dura’s board of directors has named Timothy Leuliette to the additional role of chairman of the company. He continues to serve as president and chief executive officer. Leuliette succeeds Steven Gilbert, senior managing director and chairman of Sun Group (USA) and chairman of the board of Gilbert Global Equity Partners, L.P., as chairman.
Leuliette previously served as Dura’s chairman following the company’s emergence from bankruptcy in June 2008, but relinquished that role when he became president and CEO.
Leuliette commented, "Consolidating the responsibilities of chairman and CEO under one individual facilitates more efficient decision making and improved agility, both essential attributes during periods of economic volatility.“
In addition, Tom Chambers has joined Dura as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), responsible for overseeing the day-to-day actions of Dura’s global operations. Dura recently announced a broad restructuring into four global product line divisions from seven regional business units, in an effort to further enhance Dura’s efficiency and ability to compete as one global company. Chambers will play a key role in moving that restructuring forward.
Chambers came to Dura from Metaldyne, where he served as president and COO. Before joining Metaldyne in 2004 as engine group president, he was president of Piston Automotive. Prior to that, he was employed as managing director of operations Americas for GKN, as well as president of electrical systems and general manager of brake and chassis product lines for the Americas for ITT Industries. From 1962 to 1992, he held a variety of manufacturing engineering and product engineering positions at General Motors, including managing director of General Motors France.
Chambers holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and technology from the University of Dayton and earned a master’s degree in science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
