R. L. Polk & Co. Expands Analytic Services
R. L. Polk & Co. is expanding its analytical services strength in two key areas which include the formation of an Advanced Analytics group led by Lionel Yron, and the expansion of the company’s Industry Analysis team. Lionel Yron has joined Polk as the director of advanced analytics to lead the newly formed Advanced Analytics group. In this role, Yron will oversee the design, development and delivery of Polk’s advanced analytical products and services. He and his team will proactively develop new means of delivering marketplace insight and intelligence to Polk’s customers.
Lear Names Matthew Simoncini CFO
Lear Corp. has appointed Matthew Simoncini chief financial officer, effective immediately. He will report to Lear Vice Chairman James Vandenberghe. Daniel Ninivaggi, Lear executive vice president, general counsel and chief administrative officer, will continue to oversee corporate development and strategic planning activities. Most recently, Simoncini served as senior vice president of global finance and chief accounting officer, where he was responsible for Lear’s worldwide operational finance and accounting.
Cooper Tire Appoints Investor Relations Director
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has named Curtis Schneekloth as new investor relations director, functioning as a spokesman on financial issues as he communicates with stock market analysts and investors. The lead accountant in Strategic Planning since January 2006, Schneekloth joined Cooper in June 2003 as senior internal auditor.
Advance Auto Parts Reports First Quarter Results
Advance Auto Parts has announced its financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended April 21. Earnings per diluted share for the first quarter were 71 cents, compared to 68 cents last year. In the first quarter, sales increased to $1.47 billion from $1.39 billion last year. Comparable-store sales increased 1.1 percent in the quarter, comprised of a 0.2 percent decrease in do-it-yourself (DIY) and a 5.2 percent increase in do-it-for-me (DIFM). The 1.1 percent comparable-store sales increase compares to a 3.9 percent increase in last year’s first quarter.
Visteon Appoints William Quigley CFO
Visteon Corp. has named William Quigley III chief financial officer (CFO) effective March 9. He will assume this role and also continue as the company’s chief accounting officer. Quigley will replace James Palmer who was named CFO for Northrop Grumman, a $30 billion global defense and technology company headquartered in Los Angeles. Palmer served as Visteon’s executive vice president and CFO since 2004.
ArvinMeritor Elects New Board Officers at Annual Shareowners Meeting
TROY, MI — ArvinMeritor held its annual shareowners meeting last week. At the meeting, shareowners voted to elect Rhonda Brooks, Ivor Evans, Charles McClure and William Newlin to the board of directors, with terms expiring in 2010. In addition, the shareowners approved the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP, as the company’s auditors, and approved
Pep Boys to Fill Board Vacancies at Annual Shareholders Meeting
The Pep Boys announced it will hold its 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Oct. 19. At the meeting, the board will address seat vacancies opened by the recent departure of three board members. Director Benjamin Strauss, son of Pep Boys founder Maurice “Moe” Strauss, has retired from the board of directors in accordance with the board’s mandatory retirement age policy. Additionally, director Malcolmn Pryor resigned from the board, citing no longer being eligible to serve on any board committees under NYSE rules as a consequence of his son’s recent hiring by the company’s independent auditors. The third opening is the result of the recent resignation of Lawrence Stevenson, the company’s former CEO.
Noble Announces Appointment of Corporate Officers
Noble International’s board of directors recently approved several resolutions, including the confirmation or promotion of certain executives, as well as the appointment of the company’s auditors for 2006. As previously disclosed, the board also approved a 20 percent increase in Noble’s quarterly dividend, to 8 cents per share, payable June 30 to shareholders of record as of June 16.
Advance Auto Parts Reports Record First Quarter Earnings Per Share; Board Elects President and CEO Mike Coppola Chairman
Advance Auto Parts has announced record revenue and earnings for its fiscal first quarter ending April 22. Earnings per diluted share for the first quarter were 68 cents, compared to 63 cents last year, an increase of 8 percent, on top of a 39 percent increase in last year’s first quarter. First quarter results include approximately 3 cents per share of stock-option expense, whereas results in last year’s quarter do not include pro forma stock-option expense of approximately 2 cents per share. Adjusted for comparable treatment of stock options, adjusted EPS grew 11 percent compared to last year. (All per-share amounts referenced in this release reflect the company’s 3-for-2 stock split, which took effect September 26, 2005).
Tenneco Announces Results of 2006 Annual Stockholder Meeting
At its annual stockholder meeting this week, Tenneco re-elected Charles Cramb, Timothy Donovan, M. Kathryn Eickhoff-Smith, Mark Frissora, Frank Macher, Roger Porter, David Price, Jr., Dennis Severance, Paul Stecko, Mitsunobu Takeuchi and Jane Warner to the company’s board of directors. The directors have been re-elected to serve a term expiring at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.