Executive Interview with Alexei Gurin, CEO of Amtel-Vredestein NV
Alexei Gurin is certainly putting his experience to work as CEO of Amtel-Vredestein NV and chairman of its management board. An engineer by training, Gurin earned his MBA from the University of Toronto, worked as an investment manager in Canada and other countries, was marketing director for Bennetton in Moscow, served as general director of MOST-TORG and founded Rostrade Co., a retail chain in Russia. In 2001, he joined the Amtel Group as vice president of finance, then became finance director in 2002 and general director in 2004. That year, Gurin was the point man in Amtel’s acquisition of Vredestein Banden and, most recently helped Amtel-Vredestein’s successful initial public offering of stock. In this exclusive interview, conducted as the company announced the formal entry of the Vredestein brand into the Russian tire market, Gurin discusses the acquisition and Amtel-Vredestein’s future.
GPI Gives $2 Million Gift to Northwood’s Aftermarket Building Project and Program
Northwood President Dr. David Fry announced late last week that General Parts Inc. (GPI) presented the university with a $2 million dollar gift toward the university’s planned 25,000-square-foot automotive aftermarket facility on its Midland, MI, campus. The gift was announced on behalf of the company by O. Temple Sloan III, president of GPI on Monday, February 20, during a gathering of 1,100 of their suppliers, associates and the extended Sloan family in Raleigh, NC. The building will be named The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies.
Obituary: Bill Laber, 66, Focused on Life’s Simple Pleasures
Today, I am reminded of how important it is to reach out to those you admire most, care about most, long for most, look up to most, trust most, respect most and enjoy most. Each of those feelings describes how I felt about Bill Laber. I was shocked to learn this morning that Bill passed away on Friday. I remain dazed, angry, confused, deeply saddened and remorseful that I hadn’t seen him in person in more than a year. We communicated often, almost every week if not more, but e-mail and phone calls are never enough.
Bosch and MANN+HUMMEL to Acquire Purolator Filter Business from ArvinMeritor
The Bosch Group and MANN+HUMMEL today announced plans to acquire the Purolator filter business from ArvinMeritor around April 1. The business will be continued as a 50:50 joint venture. The acquisition is subject to approval by the relevant authorities. The acquisition covers all Purolator oil, air, fuel and cabin filters.
Technician Wins 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in Raybestos Brand Brakes Spring Brake Promotion
Technician Preston Cremeans won the grand prize in the Raybestos brand brakes Spring Brake 2005 promotion — a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS worth more than $28,000. Cremeans, who purchases Raybestos brand brakes through Walker Automotive in Durham, N.C., held the winning entry in the Spring Brake promotion, which enabled professional service technicians to earn points for every purchase of an open stock order of Raybestos brand brakes.
Tenneco Receives Innovation Recognition By Frost & Sullivan for Its Diesel Emissions Control Technologies
Frost & Sullivan has presented Tenneco Inc. with the Frost & Sullivan 2005 Industry Innovation and Advancement of the Year Award for being at the forefront in providing advanced diesel exhaust after-treatment solutions for light vehicles. The award is based on the findings in Frost & Sullivan’s recent report, Strategic Analysis of North American Automotive Light Diesel Technologies.
Michelin to Discontinue F1 Involvement After 2006
Groupe Michelin will not extend its Formula One involvement beyond the 2006 season, the tiremaker announced yesterday.
AAIA Establishes New Segment for Independents
In response to appeals from its members calling for a national platform to represent the exclusive interests of independent vehicle service and repair businesses, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) has created the new Independent Service Providers segment to operate within the association.
Two Solution Providers Become First to Receive New CIECA Certification
The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) has announced that solution providers ProcessClaims and ADP Claims Services Group are the first companies to become certified under this new program.
Automakers Reshape Strategies to Fit Consumer’s Changing Needs
Consumers and automakers are switching gears. For most of the summer, car buyers flocked to large sport-utility vehicles, lured by huge incentives and rebates. At the same time, automakers poured advertising dollars into behemoth SUVs and trucks.