Executive Interview with Richard Shiozaki, Senior Vice President, DENSO Sales California
Richard Shiozaki directs the aftermarket sales group, aftermarket planning group, commercial and industrial systems group and the corporate service group for DENSO Sales California, Inc., the more than $276 million affiliate of DENSO Corp. Yesterday at AAPEX, Shiozaki gave a press conference to announce a number of new initiatives that DENSO will be focused on this year. Just prior to the show, we had a chance to sit down with Shiozaki and get all the details.
The Week in Review (Aug. 28 – Sept. 1, 2006)
By Amy Antenora Editor, aftermarketNews Due to the Labor Day holiday, our Week in Review email, typically issued on Friday afternoons, is being distributed today. With today’s Week in Review email, we unveil a new format, designed to highlight the week’s most interesting events and make it easier than ever to catch up on important
Northwood University Receives $25,000 Donation from BWP
Northwood University recently received a $25,000 donation from BWP Distributors, Inc. of Armonk, NY, for its building project, The Sloan Family Building for Aftermarket Studies. Commenting on the gift, Neil Stockel, president of BWP said, “BWP Distributors and the Stockel family have been business associates and great friends with General Parts Inc. and the Sloan family for 25 years and are very proud to be a part of this very special project at Northwood University.”
New Heritage Equity Group Executive Council Named; Group Will Explore Acquisition Opportunities
Art Lottes, Leon Viars and Joe Bagwell have been named members of the Heritage Equity Group Executive Council. Heritage Equity Group owns Beck/Arnley, which it acquired in 2005. The group was formed by former Beck/Arnley senior management following the company’s sale from Affinia Group. Together with Heritage Equity Group owners Max Dull, Patrick Greene and Richard Crawford, the newly formed Executive Council will seek out complementary acquisition opportunities.
AAIA Elects New Officers and Board of Directors; Dick Morgan Elected Chairman
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) elected new officers and board of directors at its Spring Volunteer Leadership Days held in Hollywood, FL, on May 6. “The backbone of AAIA and the lifeblood of its governance are its volunteer leaders,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. “The outstanding individuals who serve on the AAIA board of directors are among the very best visionaries and thought leaders in the aftermarket industry.”
Penray Honors Three Longtime Company Execs
Penray is honoring three individuals who are celebrating milestone anniversaries with the company in 2006. Bill Wicker has been selling chemicals to the automotive industry for 40 years, “Uncle” Darrell Hicks has been with Penray for 25 years, and has been selling to truckers, fleets and OEs for more than 40 years. Jim Ritchey has represented the Penray heavy-duty chemicals line for 25 years.
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.
Bosch Wins Lincoln Award for Performance Excellence
The aftermarket division of Robert Bosch Corp. has won the 2005 Lincoln Silver Award for Progress Towards Excellence. Given by the Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence, the award recognizes any Illinois-based industry, service, health care, education or governmental entity for its organizational strength and performance as measured against the seven criteria of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award – leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resources focus, process management and organization results.
CSK Auto Corp. Completes Purchase of Murray’s Discount Auto Stores
CSK Auto Corp has completed its purchase of Murray’s Inc. and its subsidiaries for approximately $170 million cash (including amounts that were needed to repay Murray’s existing indebtedness), subject to certain purchase price adjustments. The 110 Murray’s automotive parts and accessories retail stores in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana will retain the Murray’s name and operating model.
BREAKING NEWS: CSK Auto To Purchase Murray’s Discount Auto Stores
CSK Auto Corp., parent company of CSK Auto, announced today it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Murray’s Inc. and its subsidiary, Murray’s Discount Auto Stores. As part of the merger agreement, CSK will purchase all outstanding Murray’s stock for approximately $170 million in cash (which includes amounts to repay existing indebtedness of Murray’s).