Prestolite Appoints Gasper Buffa President, CEO
2 February 1999
Prestolite Appoints Gasper Buffa President, CEO
SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--Feb. 2, 1999--Gasper Buffa, Jr., a senior operating executive with extensive global experience in the automotive and lighting industries, has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Prestolite Wire Corporation, succeeding George Joeckel, who has been reassigned.
Mr. Buffa comes to Prestolite from Thomas & Betts Corporation, a Fortune 600 manufacturer of electronic and electrical equipment, where he was president of the Worldwide Automotive Division. In that capacity, he headed a business with $350 million in annual sales and 14 manufacturing facilities and design centers in North America, Europe and Asia. Previously he was vice president and general manager of the North American Automotive Division.
He earlier served as vice president and general manager of the Components Division and vice president of manufacturing of the Communications and Automotive Divisions of Augat, Inc., a manufacturer of electronic components that was acquired by Thomas & Betts in 1996.
Mr. Buffa began his career in 1974 with General Electric Company's Lighting Group, where he served in both staff and operating positions over a 14-year period. He managed manufacturing plants in Youngstown, Ohio, and Goldsboro, N.C., and was manager of manufacturing planning and analysis for the group, which had annual sales of $850 million.
Mr. Buffa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife, Jean, and their son, Gasper, live in Rochester Hills, Mich.
"We welcome Gasper Buffa to the company and wish him continued success as he accepts his new challenges," said Paul M. Montrone, chairman of Prestolite. "Mr. Joeckel will continue to be associated with Latona Associates, the private investment firm that is the principal advisor to Prestolite. We thank him for his dedication and effective service to Prestolite. Under his leadership, sales and earnings increased significantly, and the company expanded aggressively in the telecommunications market. We look forward to working with him in new pursuits."
Prestolite Wire, headquartered in Southfield, is a leading designer and manufacturer of specialty wire and cable products for data communication and automotive applications.