At World Congress, Automotive Leaders to Address Trends, Issues Affecting Market Share, Profitability
12 January 1998
At World Congress, Automotive Leaders to Address Trends, Issues Affecting Market Share, Profitability
DETROIT, Jan. 12 -- More than 30 of the world's most
innovative and successful automotive executives are taking part in the
"1998 Automotive News World Congress," Jan. 11 - 14, at the Westin Hotel in
Detroit.
Under the theme, "Leaders to Leaders: A World of Profitable Ideas,"
industry captains are exploring issues and trends affecting automotive
suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers. Topics cover future supplier roles,
global sourcing and pricing, innovative media and marketing and emerging
retail channels. The program includes two panel discussions on retailing and
one each on purchasing and manufacturing.
The Congress gets under way Sunday evening, Jan. 11, when Alex Trotman,
Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Co., and Victor Rice, CEO of LucasVarity p1c,
deliver keynote addresses during the opening dinner. Trotman's speech is
entitled, "Driving to Win in the 21st Century," while Rice will speak on
"Creating the Future: Driving the LucasVarity Merger to Leadership."
On Monday morning, safety and globalization are in the spotlight with
speakers C. Scott Greer, President, UT Automotive; Herbert Demel, President,
Volkswagen do Brasil SA; James G. O'Connor, Vice President, Ford Motor Co.,
and General Manager, Lincoln-Mercury Division; and Ricardo Martinez, M.D.,
Administrator, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
Focusing on cost-cutting, a manufacturing panel session on "The Suppliers'
Role in the Plant of the Future," on Monday afternoon will feature Dennis
Pawley, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, Chrysler Corp.; Robert Birch,
Vice President, Purchasing & Logistics, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International,
Inc.; Joseph Magliochetti, President, Dana Corp.; Thomas LaSorda,
Executive-in-Charge of NAO Competitive Manufacturing, General Motors Corp.;
and Gregory Mekjian, Vice President, SAP America/AG Inc.
Concurrently, the first retail panel will discuss the impact of technology
in "New Media & New Marketing Opportunities." Members will include Gail
Duncan-Campagne, President, and S.K. Paul, COO, both of Jerome-Duncan Ford;
Scott Waldron, Vice President, Systems Marketing Automotive Division, The
Reynolds and Reynolds Co.; K. Winslow Farrell, Jr., Partner, Emergent
Solutions Group, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.; and Peter Ellis, President & CEO,
Auto-By-Tel.
Monday evening's keynote speakers will be Harry Pearce, Director and Vice
Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp.; and Robert Lutz,
Vice Chairman, Chrysler Corp. Pearce will discuss, "Protecting the Environment
is a Shared Responsibility," while Lutz will speak on "Looking Back, Looking
Ahead."
On Tuesday morning, brand imaging will be the topic for speakers Roy
Roberts, Vice President, General Motors Corp., and General Manager,
Pontiac-GMC Division; Dr. Marcus Chao, Vice President and Chief
Representative, China Operations, Delphi Automotive Systems; J. Davis
Illingworth, Jr., Senior Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division,
Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc.; and W. Austin Ligon, President, CarMax.
The second panel on retailing will convene Tuesday afternoon to address
"Dealer Consolidation: Emerging Retail Channels." Members will be: Thomas
Pappert, Vice President, Dealer Relations, Chrysler Corp.; Ramsay Gillman,
Owner/President and CEO, Gillman Companies and President, National Automobile
Dealers Association; Daniel Myers, Partner, Myers, Forehand & Fuller, and Edd
Roggenkamp III, General Manager, Dealer Network Investment & Development
Group, General Motors Corp.
At the same time, the second supplier panel will discuss global sourcing
and the quest for zero defects. Addressing the topic, "Global Sourcing/Global
Pricing -- Dealing with Pricing on Several Continents," will be Robert
Rossiter, President and COO, International Operations, Lear Corp.; Jonathan
Maples, Executive Director, Supplier Management, Chrysler Corp.; Harold
Kutner, Vice President, Worldwide Purchasing, General Motor Corp.; Cesar
Penaherrera, Vice President, Purchasing Division, Honda of America
Manufacturing, Inc.; and Bruno Dehler, Manager, Supplier Support and
Purchasing Strategy, BMW of North America, Inc..
Finally, keynote speakers for Tuesday night's gala dinner will be Jurgen
Schrempp, Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler-Benz; and H. Wayne
Huizenga, Chairman and Co-CEO, Republic Industries, Inc. Schrempp will speak
on "From Revolutionary to Innovative Growth," while Huizenga will address,
"Republic Industries and the Automotive Retail Business: This is NOT a
Revolution."
Automotive News World Congress is co-sponsored by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
The Detroit office of Coopers & Lybrand is the world headquarters for the
firm's automotive consulting practice.
Stephen R. D'Arcy, managing partner at Coopers & Lybrand, said, "The
continued participation of our automotive practice in World Congress reaffirms
our firm's commitment to support an informative and insightful conference
where automotive executives can exchange ideas and explore issues and trends
with the industry's global leaders."
One of the world's leading professional service firms, Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P. provides globally integrated services for enterprises in a wide range
of industries. The firm offers its clients the expertise of more than
16,000 professionals and staff in offices in 100 U.S. cities, and through the
member firms of Coopers & Lybrand International, more than 74,000 people in
142 countries.
Founded in 1925, Automotive News is published each Monday in Detroit by
Crain Communications Inc., a privately held company that publishes 30
consumer, business and trade publications.
For more information on the World Congress or to register, call
248-594-9151, or visit the World Congress website at:
http://www.autoworldcongress.com.
SOURCE Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
