ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Exide Technologies has promoted Erach Balsara from vice president, human resources strategy and development, to vice president and chief information officer, effective immediately. Reporting to Gordon Ulsh, president and chief executive officer of Exide Technologies, Balsara will assume worldwide responsibility for all IT activities at the company.
“As Exide continues to improve and strengthen, our ability to effectively manage the massive amount of information we need to properly guide decision-making is exponentially more important,” said Ulsh. “I am confident that Erach will bring innovation, speed and progress to the implementation of our IT strategy and infuse dynamic leadership within a key organization at our company.”
Until now, Exide’s IT operation reported to the company’s finance organization.
“Having Erach and the Information Technology team report directly to me instead of finance integrates IT more tightly into the entire Exide organization, allowing for closer collaboration on business development and strategy implementation. This shift also will allow our new Chief Financial Officer Phil Damaska to focus on his organization and challenges,” said Ulsh.
Dr. Balsara replaces Carlos Cabrera, who is leaving the company. “Our thanks to Carlos for his contributions to Exide, and we wish him success,” said Ulsh.
Balsara is a highly skilled information technology strategist. He joined Exide in February 2007 and has led Exide’s Human Resource Management System project in North America. Prior to Exide, Dr. Balsara held numerous IT positions in automotive and pharmaceutical businesses. His last assignment was as chief information officer at FleetPride, Inc., the largest independent distributor of heavy-duty parts in the U.S.
Balsara holds several advanced degrees in the scientific field. He also holds a master of business degree in marketing and finance from University of Missouri.
For more information about Exide, visit: www.exide.com.
