Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Names President
11 March 1999
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Names President
WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers announced today that Josephine "Jo" Cooper has been named
president of the new organization which was formed in January.
Cooper will direct all legislative and regulatory affairs for the
Alliance, which will be the principal trade association for nine automobile
manufacturers including: BMW; DaimlerChrysler; Ford; General Motors; Mazda;
Nissan; Toyota; Volkswagen; and Volvo.
Cooper has served as Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at the American
Forest & Paper Association since 1992. She brings more than 25 years of
Washington experience to her new role at the Alliance, having served as a
Congressional aide to former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker on the
Environment and Public Works Committee; as Assistant Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for External Affairs; as chief operating
officer of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association; and as a
corporate public affairs executive with Hill & Knowlton.
"We are breaking new ground with the Alliance, and we need someone with
experience across all sectors -- business, policy making, and advocacy -- to
lead our efforts in Washington," said Peter Pestillo, chairman of the Alliance
and vice chairman of Ford Motor Company. "Jo Cooper has a proven track record
in all areas, and we are very fortunate to have someone with her skills and
reputation representing our interests before Congress, the regulatory
agencies, and the Executive Branch."
Ms. Cooper is the first executive to be named to a leadership post at the
Alliance, which will focus on representing the interests of its members in two
key issue areas -- vehicle safety and the environment.
"This is an exciting challenge for me professionally, but it is especially
exciting to be working in an industry I absolutely love," said Cooper. "I
have a true passion for automobiles, and a firm commitment to enhancing the
safety of our vehicles and protecting the environment," said Cooper.
"Around the globe, concern for the environment and safety is a shared
priority, whether it's an auto manufacturer in the U.S., in Tokyo or
Stuttgart," said Cooper. "Through the Alliance, the industry will be able to
address these issues more strategically and with greater focus than ever
before."
According to Pestillo, the role of the Alliance is to work effectively
with Congress and regulatory bodies to develop creative and constructive
solutions to public policy concerns.
"With the Alliance, we are in effect re-inventing the trade association
concept, forging a unique global alliance of manufacturers who share common
concerns and positions on two critical issues -- vehicle safety and
environmental protection," Pestillo said. "Jo Cooper is the perfect leader to
help us guide the organization in this new paradigm."
Cooper is a native of North Carolina, where she began her professional
career with EPA's Air Regulatory Program in Research Triangle Park. She
serves on several boards and advisory committees, including the EPA Clean Air
Act Advisory Committee and the Board of Visitors for the Nicholas School of
Environment at Duke University, where she received her business and management
training.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is an international coalition of
car and light truck manufacturers. The goal of the Alliance is to serve its
members, as well as consumers, by finding and instituting creative and
constructive solutions regarding vehicle safety and environmental standards.
Alliance member companies have more than 642,000 employees in the United
States. The Alliance members have 255 manufacturing facilities in 33 states
and have approximately a 90 percent share of U. S. vehicle sales.