Executive Interview with Tony Battaglia, Director of Marketing for Permatex
Tony Battaglia is the director of marketing at Permatex, Inc., where he is responsible for the company’s product and market management groups, as well as the creative and marketing services departments. Battaglia is a 17-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket and has been with Permatex since 1989, when the company was part of the Loctite/Permatex organization. As Permatex approaches its 100th year anniversary, the company continues to maintain its position as an established leader and innovator in the service and repair chemicals market. Join us as Battaglia shares a bit about the company, including how Illinois Tool Works’ acquisition of Permatex last year has helped the company grow, as well as some insight as to what lies ahead for the company.
India: New Hub of the Automotive Industry
India’s car market has emerged as the fastest-growing in the world. With the number of cars sold in the country projected to double by 2010, Europe’s key automotive players are busy building factories in the sub-continent, where costs are low and margins high. In the space of five years, production of passenger cars in India has jumped by more than 100 percent to 1.11 million vehicles sold last year. International analysts agree that the country is in the major league of Asian automotive markets, but until now most car companies preferred China over India as the location for a manufacturing bridgehead.
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.
Michael Crawford Forms Own Indy Pro Series Team
Sam Schmidt Motorsports GM Michael Crawford has announced plans to form his own Indy Pro Series team. Michael Crawford Motorsports will field two cars in the Indy Pro Series — the Indy Racing League’s development series, in 2006.
Katie Noga Appointed President of the Women’s Board
Katie Noga, marketing communications and motorsports manager for SKF, has been appointed president of the Car Care Council Women’s Board for the 2006 year. Noga, a 26-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket, is a founding member of the Women’s Board. She succeeds past president Jennifer Tio.
ANSA Automotive Launches Online Catalog at SEMA/AAPEX
An online catalog with full search functionality is now available on the ANSA Automotive Parts Distributors website: www.ANSAautomotive.com.
Ungar to Leave IRL at Season’s End
The Indy Racing League announced that Senior Vice President of Business Affairs Ken Ungar has decided to leave the League’s front office after the 2005 IRL IndyCar Series season. Ungar joined the League in 2001 as its vice president of business affairs, after serving as the first chief of staff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for five years.
Peak Antifreeze, Mr. Clean to Sponsor Chicagoland Speedway IRL Indy/Car Race
Old World Industries has announced that it has signed an agreement with Chicagoland Speedway to be the title rights sponsor for the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series race in Joliet, IL, on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005. The race – dubbed the PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300 Presented by Mr. Clean – is named after two of Old World Industries’ top brands, PEAK Antifreeze and Mr. Clean Windshield Wash and Wiper Blades.
Kansas Student Takes Home 2005 Vic Edelbrock Sr. Scholarship Award
Carrying on a proud tradition, Vic Edelbrock Jr. last week presented a check for $6,619 to Levi Wassemiller, an automotive student at the Northwest Kansas Technical College (NWKTC). Wassemiller, 19, of Goodland, Ks., is the recipient of the 2005 Vic Edelbrock Sr. Scholarship Award.
Sherwin Williams Automotive Finishes to Sponsor Cleveland Grand Prix
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes has announced its partnership with the Cleveland Grand Prix as the event’s official paint and automotive finishes sponsor. The 24th annual Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland will be held June 24 – 26, at Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport.