Career Tracks
Trico’s Sarah Moore to participate in first W Series
Trico brand ambassador Sarah Moore has been chosen as one of the drivers for the inaugural W Series, the first top level motor racing championship for female racing drivers.
Prometeon promotes Versace
Alain Versace has taken on a new role within Prometeon Tyre Group. Effectively immediately, he is the tyre maker’s head of global trade marketing and services, as well as head of its global Agro & OTR business.
FER welcomes new board appointees and members
The Federation of Engine Re-manufacturers (FER) has made new appointments to the FER Board including its new President, as well as welcomed more businesses to its membership roster, as it looks to widen its support of the engine repair and remanufacturing sector.
Neil Croxson appointed president, COO of The Parts Alliance
The Parts Alliance has appointed chief financial officer Neil Croxson president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. He succeeds Peter Sephton, who is retiring after ensuring an orderly transition over a three-month period.
WhoCanFixMyCar.com appoints ex-Carphone Warehouse CEO as chairman
WhoCanFixMyCar.com has appointed Andrew Harrison, a former chief executive and chairman of Carphone Warehouse, has joined its board as chairman from 26 March – he is also investing in the company, and joins existing shareholders: Shell Ventures, Active Private Equity, and Venrex Investment Management.
Superior Industries appoints new president, CEO
Aluminium wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International, Inc. has appointed a permanent successor to Don Stebbins, who retired as the company’s president and chief executive officer at the end of last year. Majdi B. Abulaban will start in both roles on 15 May 2019, taking over from executive chairman, Timothy McQuay, who assumed all Stebbins’ duties once the latter’s departure was announced.
Hankook appoints Jacobi HR director Europe
Thomas Jacobi is the new director of human resources at Hankook Tire’s European headquarters. He began in this position on 1 March and is responsible for managing the tyre maker’s human resources activities within the region. Jacobi joins Hankook Tire from telecommunications company Syniverse Technologies, where he was senior regional director for the EMEA region. In total, Jacobi has more than 13 years of experience in human resources across various sectors.
Volvo apprenticeships offer ‘opportunity to be part of an industry transformation’
As the motor industry shifts towards a connected, electrified future, many roles within the sector have evolved beyond recognition. Jason Ratcliffe, level four master technician at Rybrook Volvo in Warrington, puts the spotlight on how the role of a vehicle technician has transformed significantly in the short time since he embarked on Volvo Car UK’s apprentice scheme aged 16.
New senior developer joins CAM
CAM is expanding its software development team with the appointment of John Reed as a senior developer. According to the company, his appointment “highlights the importance the business places on the CAM ecosystem in creating products that support all forms of business, from multi depot retail outlets to mobile businesses that bring services to them”.
Continental aims for 25% female management by 2025
Continental AG is taking steps to increase the number of women in its management structure. A key way of improving the situation is setting the goal of 25 per cent of managers being women by 2015. According to Continental, the voluntarily commitment applies not only in Germany but also across the worldwide company.
Cooper’s Kathleen Slocum wins 2019 Step Ahead award
The Manufacturing Institute has recognized Kathleen Slocum, senior manager, Corporate Quality for Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, with a Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award for 2019. Slocum is among 130 women nationally who earned the honour this year from a field of hundreds of nominees.
Falken reorganises European management
Falken Tyre Europe has revised its management structure. As a result, Markus Bögner, existing COO and managing director, is now COO and president of Falken Tyre Europe. Bögner, who has been at Falken since 2009, was primarily responsible for sales and marketing. The new role, effective from 1 March, enables Bögner to “focus on the overall running and performance of the growing business”, according to the company.
Continental’s Setzer appointed to new Automotive role; Kötz named Tire division head
At a meeting on 14 March, the Supervisory Board of German tyre and automotive systems maker Continental approved the next stage of one of the largest organisational changes in its history. Several new appointments at Executive Board level were announced, including the transfer of Nikolai Setzer to the company’s Automotive Group.
Goodyear appoints Richard Tawlks as TruckForce equity business manager
Goodyear Tyres has appointed Richard Tawlks as TruckForce’s equity business manager. Tawlks has a wealth of experience in reducing the cost of tyre ownership and committing to safety and service standards delivered by TruckForce. Tawlks will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the TruckForce equity business, ensuring customers receive an industry leading tyre service and maintenance partnership. Tawlks has 25 years of experience within the transport industry. He has been a TruckForce regional manager since 2014.
Nexion acquires Stenhøj Group
Automotive servicing equipment supplier Nexion has acquired a majority shareholding in Denmark’s Stenhøj Group. Nexion acquired 75 per cent of Stenhøj Group, with a 25 per cent share in the company remaining in the hands of the previous owner, the Dyoe family. The deal, completed on 8 March, sees Nexion, already a global leader in the automotive equipment sector with the Corghi, Bright, HPA-Faip, Mondolfo Ferro, SICE, Orlandini, Tecnomotor, and Teco brands, extend its portfolio to the Danish Group’s products and services in the automotive aftermarket range, which include Dunlop, Autop, Sherpa, Molnar, Bradbury, Tecalemit, Gemco, and its eponymous Stenhøj brand. This list illustrates the current period of consolidation in the garage equipment sector; the acquisition comes two years after the formation of the Corwei joint venture with Bright, an important Chinese competitor.