Remy to Sponsor Paul Dana in the Ethanol Hemelgarn Indy Racing League Entry
Remy International has signed a three-year associate sponsorship agreement with driver Paul Dana for the #91 Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing entry in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, starting with the 2005 season. Dana will pilot the Toyota-powered Dallara for the 17-race season. Ron Hemelgarn, a founding team owner in the Indy Racing League, will operate the team in an encore return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Starcraft Agrees to Merger; Goshen Company Hopes Joining with Fuel Cell Maker Will Spur Growth
In a deal that Starcraft Corp. says should spur its growth and possibly consumer demand for fuel cell vehicles, the automotive supplier announced Thursday it has agreed to merge with Irvine, Calif.-based Quantum Fuel System Technologies Worldwide.
Northwood University Seeking New Director for University of the Aftermarket
Northwood University is currently seeking a new director for the University of the Aftermarket, following the recent resignation of current director Vincent Daviero. Daviero plans to return to his home in Florida but will assist the University with the transition until a new director can be found.
Executive Interview: Jacques Landreville and Jim Buzzard Talk About the Recent Merger of Uni-Select and MAWDI
Our latest Executive Interview features Jacques Landrevillenand Jim Buzzard. On November 1, Landreville and the Buzzard family completed the merger of Uni-Select and MAWDI. The merger significantly expands Uni-Select’s reach into the U.S., where it will generate revenues of approximately $470 million. As part of the agreement, all current MAWDI and Uni-Select locations will remain under their original names, but at the corporate level MAWDI will operate as a subsidiary of Uni-Select USA. All of the various companies within Uni-Select USA, including MAWDI, will be referred to as Automotive Group USA. Landreville and Buzzard recently spoke with aftermarketNews.com and shared some of the finer details about the future for Uni-Select USA.
AMI Semiconductor Names Vice President of North American Sales
AMI Semiconductor, a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal and structured digital products for the automotive, medical and industrial sectors, has appointed Peter Hansen to the post of vice president of North American sales.
Executive Interview with Ron Pyle, President and Chief Staff Executive of the Automotive Service Association (ASA)
Every other week, aftermarketNews.com offers an interview with high-profile individuals in the automotive aftermarket. We give executives free rein to express their views on anything from the state of their corporations to recent legislative news to future trends in their niche markets. Here you see what matters to the newsmakers themselves.
Herman Trend Alert: Executive Exits Expected
Executives are restless. Employers expect leaders at top levels to depart at a substantially faster rate over the next few years, compared to what has been seen over the past few years. Results from a recent poll conducted by The Association of Executive Search Consultants revealed that 54 percent of executives responding expect to work for seven or more employers during their career, compared to nine percent who felt that way ten years ago.
Executive Interview: John Washbish Talks About the Dana AAG Acquisition
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features John Washbish, president of customer relationship management for the Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group (AAG). On Friday it was officially announced that New York-based investment firm Cypress Group agreed to buy Dana AAG for $1.1 billion. We had the opportunity to talk to Washbish just hours after the announcement was made. Join us as he shares some of the preliminary details on the acquisition and talks about the future of the Automotive Aftermarket Group.
Torvec Appoints New Management Team
Torvec Inc., a Western New York-based automotive technology firm, has appointed new executives to the positions of CEO, CFO and chairman of the board. Richard Ottalagana, co-founder of PaeTec Communications, a national communications company where he served as executive vice president, has been named CEO of Torvec. Ottalagana replaces former Eastman Kodak Co. executive Eric Steenburgh who has served as CEO and chairman since 2002.
Pickups Plus Appoints New COO
Pickups Plus, a leading retailer and national franchiser in the $38 billion truck and SUV aftermarket accessory industry, has appointed Sean Hayes COO. Hayes who joined Pickups Plus, in April 2003, will lead the integration of the company’s new acquisition, Auto Preservation, into the company’s corporate structure and expansion plans. Hayes will also be in charge of disseminating appropriate information to shareholders and the expansion of the company’s franchising business.