Delphi Debuts New Ad Campaign; Aims to Bring Automotive Technology to Other Markets
Delphi has debuted a new television ad campaign aimed at showing how the company is taking automotive technology to other markets. The new campaign, created by McCann Erickson’s Detroit office, depicts how Delphi technologies can be used to benefit other industries outside the automotive arena, including medical, homeland security and computers.
Executive Interview with Howard Kesten, President and Founder of Workboards
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Howard Kesten, president and founder of Workboards, which launched the automotive job site, aftermarketJobs.com, in December 2003. A two-time guest speaker at AAPEX, Kesten is also founder and CEO of APA Search, Inc., an executive search and human resources consulting firm serving the automotive industry. In 18 years, he has placed more than 1,600 automotive professionals. Join us as Kesten provides an introduction to aftermarketJobs.com and shares with us his predictions for the future of the aftermarket and the job market.
Alcoa Named ‘Most Admired Company’ by Fortune Magazine
Alcoa has been named one of Fortune magazine’s “Most Admired Companies” in the magazine’s upcoming annual report on reputation. Alcoa is one of the world’s leading producers of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry, including the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets.
Collins & Aikman Exec Michael Mitchell to Retire
Michael Mitchell, president of global commercial operations for Collins & Aikman Corp., has announced he will retire at the end of the month. Mitchell has served in his current position with Collins & Aikman since January 2002. He joined the company through the 2001 acquisition of Textron Automotive’s trim division, where he served as executive vice president of business and product development.
Goudy Named Vice President PPG Automotive Aftermarket
Garry Goudy has been appointed vice president of PPG Industries’ automotive aftermarket, comprising automotive refinish coatings, automotive replacement glass and insurance and services. While continuing to lead PPG’s refinish coatings business, in this new role Goudy will assume broader responsibility for all of PPG’s automotive aftermarket business initiatives.
Alcoa Returns Unit to Former CEO
Alcoa Inc. has finally found a buyer for its automotive fasteners business, agreeing to sell the unit more than a year after putting it on the block. The Pittsburgh-based company said it would sell the business to a group led by Robert Kaminski for an undisclosed price. Kaminski is the former CEO and owner of Continental/Midland, one of the fastener maker’s predecessor companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Republic Names George Strickler CFO
Former BorgWarner Executive Vice President and CFO George Strickler has been named executive vice president and CFO for Republic Engineered Products, one of North America’s largest producers of special bar quality steel. Prior to joining BorgWarner in 2001, Strickler served as vice president of finance for Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. He held finance and treasury positions at the tiremaker for 30 years. He was also executive vice president and CFO at Lake West Group, a retail consulting company based in Cleveland, Ohio.
Apogee Appoints New CFO
Apogee Enterprises, which develops and delivers value-added glass products and services for the automotive industry, has appointed William Marchido as its CFO. Marchido had been CFO at Siemens Dematic in Grand Rapids, Mich., since 1988. At Siemens Dematic, he was responsible for all financial areas, including IT systems management and productivity improvement programs, for the America’s Material Handling Division and locations in Europe, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.
Tenneco Automotive Names Two New VPs
Tenneco Automotive has named James Perkins as vice president and controller and John Kunz as vice president and treasurer. Perkins joins Tenneco Automotive from GE Medical Systems Information Technology, where he most recently was director, commercial operations. Kunz joins Tenneco Automotive from Great Lakes Chemical Corp., where he most recently served as vice president and treasurer.
Clemson Nabs Top Leader For Auto Project
The new director of Clemson’s automotive research center drives a minivan, but Robert Geolas does not recall how many pistons it packs. Geolas, a North Carolina State grad, said his Honda CRV was built in 1991. Or was that 1992? His wife once told him he did not have enough automotive experience to change a tire. “I hope they didn’t hire me to be an automotive expert,” Geolas said. But Geolas said there are plenty at Clemson. He said the university has automotive engineering talent and the vision to build a graduate program designed to attract research and higher-paying jobs to South Carolina.