Affinia Group Inc. has transformed its marketing organization, including the creation of four new, high-level positions. The move will place increased emphasis on global thinking and the use of category management to drive customer-facing decisions, according to Terry McCormack, president and CEO of Affinia.
Jerry McCabe, formerly vice president of communications and marketing services, has been named to the newly created post of senior vice president of business architecture. Jeff Stauffer (formerly with Old World Industries) joins Affinia as senior vice president of global group marketing.
Bruce Reau (formerly with Pioneer, Inc.) was hired as vice president of category management for Affinia’s Under Vehicle Group in McHenry, IL. In addition, Dave McColley, formerly vice president of marketing, has been named vice president of category management, Under Hood Group. Terry Shively (formerly with Clevite Engine Parts), in his new position as vice president of market development, will concentrate on strategic opportunities that can extend Affinia’s core strengths and on growth opportunities beyond established channels.
CORCORAN PROMOTED TO PRESIDENT, ZF SALES
& SERVICE NORTH AMERICA
ZF promoted Tim Corcoran to president, ZF Sales & Service NA, LLC. He takes over the position from Helmut Schulz who will retire at the end of the year.
Corcoran has been with ZF since 1989 and in his most recent position served as vice president, ZF Sales and Service NA, LLC. In his new position, Corcoran is responsible for all aftermarket operations supporting ZF product in North America for its Car Driveline Technology, Commercial Vehicle & Special Driveline Technology, Off-Road Driveline Technology & Axle Systems and Lenksysteme Divisions.
NAPA CHASSIS NAMES WINNERS OF ITS ‘EXTREME SPORTS PACKAGE’ PROMOTION
Four lucky technicians will soon be attending the sporting event of their dreams for simply selling the most extreme chassis parts in the market — NAPA CHASSIS Precision Engineered.
The following technicians, one technician from each NAPA CHASSIS sales region, won a $5,000 NAPA CHASSIS Extreme Sports Package certificate to the major sporting event of their choice: Russ Jacoby from Eagle Tire in Helena, MT; Todd Muilenburg from Lakeland Car Company in Grand Rapids, MI; Jose Sanchez from Jose’s Auto Center, Inc. in Tampa, FL; and Russ Crowner from Freedom Tire in Ames, IA.
The prize package includes round-trip airfare for two, event tickets for two, hotel accommodations and ground transportation. Available sporting events from which they can choose include the Rose Bowl, Pro Bowl, Daytona 500, Indy 500, U.S. Open golf, U.S. Open tennis and World Series.
PENRAY REACHES SAFETY MILESTONE
Penray, manufacturer of cooling system treatments, fuel treatments and shop chemicals, has reached the safety milestone of 1,000 days or 600,000 hours without a recordable lost-time injury at either of its manufacturing plants located in Elk Grove Village, IL, and Wheeling, IL.
“Safety is something we take very seriously,” said Howard Laga, vice president, operations. “Going 1,000 days without a lost-time injury is a landmark in the manufacturing industry. We attribute this achievement to our internal safety precautions, extended training and excellent employee attitude about safety.”
BOSCH UNVEILS WWW.BOSCHAUTOPARTS.COM
Bosch has launched www.boschautoparts.com — a brand-new website developed especially for the aftermarket. Bosch’s comprehensive website allows auto parts retailers, installers and motorists quick and easy access to a vast storehouse of information about Bosch aftermarket parts and services, and offers a host of related resources such as technical information, frequently asked questions, a vehicle part finder, special promotions, motorsports news, and Bosch gear and gifts.
Boschautoparts.com provides information about all Bosch parts available in the aftermarket — alternators, spark plugs, oxygen sensors, filters, wiper blades, brake parts, diesel parts, ignition parts, fuel injection, water pumps and spark plug wire sets. All parts are listed neatly in the left column and are only a click away from a brief description, a part finder and where it can be bought.
CLEVITE ENGINE PARTS DIVISION NAMED TO NAPA 95% CLUB
Six different product lines supplied by Clevite Engine Parts have received the NAPA 95% Club honors based on outstanding shipping and service performance to the NAPA Distribution Centers in 2005.
Clevite product lines that were named to the NAPA 95% Club include NAPA gaskets, Clevite engine parts, Clevite 77 engine bearings, Perfect Circle piston rings, Clevite oil pumps and Clevite engine kits.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Clevite 77 engine bearings, Perfect Circle piston rings, Clevite oil pumps and Clevite engine kits have received the NAPA 95% Club Award. This is the third consecutive year that NAPA gaskets has been named and the second consecutive year that Clevite engine parts has been named.
LARRY PAVEY JOINS FEDERATED AUTO PARTS
Larry Pavey has joined the Federated Auto Parts management team as a corporate advisor, according to Rusty Bishop, chief executive officer of Federated Auto Parts.
“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with an industry leader like Larry Pavey,” said Bishop. “We decided to work together in a number of areas including product and distribution issues in order to best serve our membership.”
Pavey is a 30-year aftermarket veteran who began his career at Walker Manufacturing. He worked for Echlin and Dana Corporation for 20 years at the Brake Parts Inc. division where he served as president for 13 years, building the business to one of the largest manufacturers in the industry. After retiring from Dana, he worked with ARI and as a consultant for Global Parts Solutions.
JOHN SAWATSKY OF WINDSOR, ONTARIO NAMED 2006 ‘CARQUEST EXCELLENCE AWARD’ WINNER
John Sawatsky, owner of MSJ Automotive Services Ltd. in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was named the 2006 CARQUEST Excellence Award winner. The CARQUEST Excellence Award seeks to recognize the top independent auto service business in North America that, through the course of everyday service excellence, exemplifies the professionalism necessary to build public understanding and respect for people working in the auto service industry today.
Sawatsky and his wife, Cathy, founded MSJ Automotive Services Ltd. in 1989, naming it after their three daughters, Melissa, Stefanie and Jaclyn. The 9,000-square-foot repair facility employs seven technicians and three apprentices who have more than 117 years of experience among them.
BREMBO ANNOUNCES NEW LOGISTICS PLAN
Along with product quality and innovation, service is one of the most important aspects of Brembo North America’s aftermarket business. Geoffrey Wilsey, director of aftermarket sales for Brembo North America (BNA), announced a partnership with DHL Solutions to implement a new warehousing and distribution system that will provide quicker, more efficient delivery across the U.S. and Canada.
DHL Solutions, based in Plantation, FL, and BNA will utilize campus warehouses in Columbus, OH, (250,000 sq. ft.), and Fresno, CA, (90,000 sq. ft.) to service Brembo North America customers.