Appointments and Promotions at Johnson Controls Strengthen Company's Global Approach with Customers
8 July 1997
Appointments and Promotions at Johnson Controls Strengthen Company's Global Approach with Customers
Automotive seating and interior systems supplier
expands responsibilities of 24 senior managers
PLYMOUTH, Mich., July 8 -- Top officials at the Plymouth,
Michigan-based Automotive Systems Group of Johnson Controls say
the company is taking steps to strengthen its worldwide approach to business
and its focus on customers. Promotions and appointments announced last week at
the company -- the world's largest supplier of automotive seating and interior
systems -- expanded the global, product and customer responsibilities of 24
senior managers.
"These shifts give customers a dedicated, single-point focus for our total
interiors product offerings worldwide, and create global responsibility for
all operations and administrative positions," said John Barth, executive vice
president for Johnson Controls.
The appointments included the promotions of three senior executives to
new presidential roles at the Automotive Systems Group. Chip McClure was named
president for the Americas; John Fiori was named president for Europe and
Asia; and Mike Johnston was appointed president of interiors, components
manufacturing, engineering and development, and continues his role as vice
president of the company's battery business.
McClure formerly served as the company's vice president of North and South
American operations. Fiori was vice president and general manager for European
and Asia operations. And Johnston previously served at Johnson Controls as
vice president and general manager of Interior Systems.
Nine executives were promoted to new roles to manage global business units
that direct customer-specific operations worldwide for both seating and
interior systems. They are:
* Leonardo Attanasio, to serve as vice president and managing director for
the Mercedes Benz/Fiat Business Unit;
* Gary Cardwell, to serve as vice president and general manager for the
Toyota Business Unit;
* Jeff Edwards, to serve as vice president and general manager for the
General Motors/Opel/Saturn Business Unit;
* Garry Krouse, to serve as vice president and general manager for the
Chrysler Business Unit;
* Jacques Lamotte, to serve as vice president for the Renault/PSA Business
Unit;
* John McDonough, to serve as vice president and managing director for the
Nissan Business Unit;
* Bob Ryan, to serve as vice president and general manager for the Ford
Business Unit;
* Rande Somma, to serve as vice president and general manager for the
Honda Business Unit; and,
* Udo Steffen, to serve as vice president and managing director for the
Volkswagen/BMW-Rover Business Unit;
Three executives were promoted to new roles to manage region-specific
operations for both seating and interiors. They are:
* Gerry Beaubien, to serve as vice president and general manager for the
South America Business Unit;
* John McDonough, to serve as vice president and managing director for
Asian Operations; and,
* George Sabo, to serve as vice president and general manager for the
Mexico Business Unit.
Additional appointments were made, giving global responsibility for key
operations and administrative functions. They include:
* Larry Alles, to serve as vice president and general manager -
Purchasing;
* Pat Dennis, to serve as group vice president - Finance, Information
Services and Business Processes;
* Stacy Fox, to serve as group vice president and general counsel;
* Lou Kincaid, to serve as vice president and general manager -
Engineering/Product Development;
* Brian Koop, to serve as vice president and general manager - Interior
Trim;
* Jim Krupinski, to serve as vice president and general manager - Foam;
* Jim Mallon, to serve as vice president and general manager - Cut & Sew;
* George Sabo, to serve as vice president and general manager -
Mechanisms/Metal;
* Rande Somma, to serve as group vice president - Marketing, Planning
and Business Development;
* Bob Velanovich, to serve as vice president and general manager -
Worldwide Seat System Engineering, and group vice president - Quality
and Manufacturing Technology; and,
* Keith Wandell, to serve as vice president and general manager - Battery.
"These appointments are part of a broader organizational shift that
supports our international growth and product expansion," said Barth. "In
addition, they strengthen Johnson Controls' capabilities for providing world-
class service on a worldwide basis."
Barth says the changes also will help the company as it continues to
integrate the products, processes and systems it gained in recent
acquisitions.
In 1996, Johnson Controls acquired the automotive operations of Prince,
a Holland, Michigan-based supplier of automotive systems and electronics. The
company also purchased a majority interest in Roth Freres, a French automotive
seating and interior system manufacturer.
Johnson Controls, Inc., with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a
global market leader in automotive systems and building controls. Through its
Automotive System Group, it designs and produces seating and interior systems
for automakers worldwide, and batteries for the original equipment and
replacement markets. The Controls Group serves the non-residential buildings
market with controls systems and services, and integrated facility management.
Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls operates in more than 500 locations around
the world. Johnson Controls securities are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE) with the trading symbol "JCI."
The Automotive Systems Group of Johnson Controls is the world's largest
supplier of vehicle seating and interior systems. In 1996, the company's
worldwide operations supplied interior products for more than 10 million
vehicles. The Automotive Systems Group employs more than 44,000 people at 151
facilities worldwide and achieved $6.3 billion in sales for the 1996 fiscal
year. During the same period, Johnson Controls, Inc. (all divisions) recorded
sales of $10 billion.
SOURCE Johnson Controls