NTK Technologies Inc. has announced that Rich Sullivan, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, retired on March 31, 2022. Sullivan has been part of the NGK Spark Plugs, Co. LTD. organization for 37 years. He will continue to advise the NGK Japan executive team.
Hired as a district sales manager for Northern California in 1985, Sullvan took on roles of increasing responsibility during his tenure with the company. He assumed leadership roles in sales, marketing, supply chain management, human resources, information technology, finance, legal and general affairs. He was also a member of NGK Spark Plugs CO. LTD’s senior executive team, reporting to global leadership.
Sullivan is credited with supporting the company’s U.S. headquarters move and establishing a new sales and marketing team, redefining corporate administrative structure and support, supporting the acquisition of wells vehicle electronics, and overseeing the construction and assuming a leadership role with NGK’s newest vision and innovation center, Venture Lab.
“I would like to say that I had a vision 37 years ago of my path forward, but that is not the case. I was given opportunities and did my best to excel in them. I started as a spark plug salesman in Northern California, and it is appropriate that I end this chapter back where I started,” stated Sullivan.