Federal-Mogul Appoints Jay Burkhart, Vice President, Global Marketing and Brand Strategy
Federal-Mogul has appointed Jay Burkhart to vice president, global marketing and brand strategy. In this new role, he will be responsible for marketing and brand strategy in aftermarket sales locations throughout the world. Prior to this promotion, Burkhart, who joined the company in 1998, was responsible for marketing in the North American aftermarket. He has been instrumental in helping the Federal-Mogul North American aftermarket organization achieve record performance in sales and numerous awards for marketing excellence, including most recently, the prestigious PACE Award for product innovation.
Midas Completes Restructuring
Midas said it has completed its restructuring plan successfully, and on schedule. In April 2003, Midas announced agreements with AutoZone in the U.S. and Uni-Select in Canada for distribution of Midas brand and other automotive parts to the 1,900 Midas shops in North America. Midas’ timetable to exit the parts distribution business was the end of fiscal 2003. In April 2003, Midas announced agreements with AutoZone in the U.S. and Uni-Select in Canada for distribution of Midas brand and other automotive parts to the 1,900 Midas shops in North America. Midas’ timetable to exit the parts distribution business was the end of fiscal 2003.
Bridgestone Americas’ Lampe To Retire
John Lampe, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas Holding, who led the company’s remarkable recovery after devastating tire recalls in late 2000 and early 2001, announced today that he is retiring effective Mar. 31. He will be succeeded as chairman and CEO of BAH by Mark Emkes, currently chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT). Lampe announced his retirement this afternoon during a company-wide live Web cast and conference call. In addition, Lampe and Emkes granted Tire Review an exclusive in-depth interview about the retirement and the company’s future plans earlier this morning.
Tenneco Automotive’s Walker Brand Launches Program to Boost Shops’ Exhaust Margins
Tenneco Automotive, manufacturer and marketer of Walker exhaust products, has launched a new product marketing and merchandising initiative designed to help shops recapture lost margins. At the heart of the program is an all-new Walker premium replacement muffler – the Quiet-Flow3 – which the company says delivers the precise sound, fit and guaranteed durability that is preferred by owners of late-model domestic and import vehicles.
Nearly 35,000 Manufacturing Professionals Expected at National Manufacturing Week
Nearly 35,000 manufacturing professionals from more than 10,000 companies are expected at National Manufacturing Week (NMW), scheduled to take place Monday, Feb. 23, through Thursday, Feb. 26, in Chicago. The event is organized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). The latest in innovative manufacturing technologies and processes will be featured at the event. NMW’s six shows cover design engineering; plant engineering and facilities management; industrial automation; enterprise IT; technology and cleaning technology.
Ex-Visteon Employees File Suit
More than 50 former employees of Visteon Corp. have filed a lawsuit against the $18-billion auto-parts supplier, claiming that the company conned them into signing non-negotiable separation agreements that they later learned were negotiable for more compensation. The multimillion-dollar suit, filed last week in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan, says that Visteon presented 54 workers with separation contracts in April 2001 after the Dearborn, Mich.-based company announced that it would cut its white-collar workforce.
Roush Acquires Mountune Racing
As part of its strategy to expand its European engineering operations Roush has acquired England-based Mountune Racing Limited. The company said this acquisition will also address the growing demand for small-displacement, high-performance engines in the U.S. Mountune Racing will become a wholly owned division of Roush, and will be located within Roush’s Brentwood, England, facility.
Hayes Lemmerz Announces Agreement with Strick
Hayes Lemmerz International’s commercial highway division has reached a new supply agreement with Strick Corp. Hayes Lemmerz will supply 100 percent of all standard, non-specified, wheel end components for Strick in 2004 and 2005. This includes CentruMount steel wheels, cast hub and drums and Centrifuse brake drums.
SKF/CR Launches New Online Catalog
SKF/Chicago Rawhide has launched a new online catalog of bearings and seals for car and light truck applications. The online catalog is capable of searching by application, part number or by a manufacturers’ part number. Once a part is selected, a separate screen appears showing an image of the part, as well as the specifications and properties of the part. According to SKF, the online catalog offers the most up-to-date product information and also eliminates the use of printed materials.
Harris Interactive Launches Internet-Based Automotive Market Research Product; Names Head of Automotive Research Group
Harris Interactive, a global market research and consulting firm, has introduced enhanced Internet-based market research capabilities for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. Harris Interactive has developed a consumer panel to be used exclusively for automotive market research. The firm’s automotive insights panel is comprised of a body of respondents identified from among its multimillion-member panel of online survey respondents. The panel can provide vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers with insight into consumer preferences, product knowledge, buying behavior and brand awareness. In conjunction with this announcement, Harris Interactive has appointed Scott Upham senior vice president of the Automotive & Transportation Research (ATR). Upham, previously of J.D. Power and Associates, will direct automotive research efforts for the company.