It begins, and ends, this week with TPMS.
Our recap of the week’s top news starts with a visit from Schrader Electronics, which kicked off a 6,400-mile road trip across the country on Monday to promote its new Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) product, the EZ-Sensor. After kicking off their “Easy Drive to SEMA” Tour in Detroit, the Schrader team made a pit stop at the Akron, Ohio, headquarters of Babcox Media to meet with Babcox editors and show off the company’s new product. The tour was created to get the message out about EZ-Sensor – the company’s new, fully programmable TPMS sensor and reprogramming tool – which was co-developed by Schrader and Bartec. The tour will make a minimum of two stops each day to visit with tire dealer and distributor customers and two stops a day to meet with consumers and demonstrate the product, which has been installed on a Toyota Prius. The tour will make its final stop at the SEMA Show Nov. 2-5 in Las Vegas.
In other top news this week, we have a number of notable executive appointments to tell you about.
Affinia Group has announced key management changes for global sales and communications. Rod Nineham, vice president of global sales, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31, following 27 years of service with Dana Corp. and Affinia Group. Assuming the vice president’s position is Robert Beltran, who will work closely with Nineham throughout the remainder of 2010 to assure a smooth transition for the Affinia Global Sales Group and its global customers. In addition, Scott Howat, formerly director of corporate communications, has been named director of global communications. Affinia also today announced that Kathi Mehall has been named vice president, information technology for Affinia Group Inc., effective Nov. 1. She will be responsible for the development of information technology in support of Affinia’s global business model.
Global friction materials manufacturer FRAS-LE has appointed Randy Mordue as its director of sales and marketing for the North American Light Vehicle Aftermarket. Mordue will oversee the growth of FRAS-LE’s line of disc brake pads, launched in 2009, in the North American automotive aftermarket. Mordue’s position at FRAS-LE is new – he will serve as the company’s first director of sales and marketing for the North American light vehicle aftermarket. He joins the company from Akebono, where he served as general manager of sales and marketing.
Wells Manufacturing this week announced the appointment of Tony Wallerich as its new national sales manager, traditional accounts. In this role, he will oversee Wells’ growing portfolio of business with leading two- and three-step distributors. He joins Wells after four years as area sales manager for UCI International Inc. and has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket. Wallerich began his career as a counterperson at a NAPA Auto Parts store in Covington, Ind.
The final item in our look back at the week’s top news is our Executive Interview with Howard Laster, director of product management and new business development for Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket. He is charged with developing new business opportunities for existing product offerings, as well as seeking new business relationships utilizing mutual manufacturing, engineering, customer base and sales and marketing expertise to provide unique solutions. Responsibilities also include directing the VDO Product Management Team and Portfolio, pricing strategies, and new product development. In Monday’s interview, Laster spoke with AMN about emerging technologies and trends for TPMS and the company’s new VDO REDI-Sensor.
