Hayes Lemmerz International Forms New Cast Components Group
29 April 1999
Hayes Lemmerz International Forms New Cast Components Group, New Business Units and New Unit Presidents
ROMULUS, Mich., April 29 -- To exploit the advantages of its
acquisition of market leader CMI International, Hayes Lemmerz International,
Inc. , the world's leading supplier of corner modules for the
automotive and commercial highway industries, announced today that it has
created the new Cast Components Group and has appointed several new
presidents.
The Cast Components Group, as a result of the merger, will include three
business units: the Suspension Components Business Unit, the Powertrain
Components Business Unit and the Automotive Brakes Business Unit. Acting as
Group President until a permanent appointment is made will be Ron Cucuz,
CEO and Chairman of Hayes Lemmerz, who made the initial announcement.
The newly formed Suspension Components Business Unit will be headed by
Mish Jaksic, former Business Unit President of Automotive Brakes at Hayes
Lemmerz. The new business unit has manufacturing facilities located in
Cadillac, MI, Montague, MI, Southfield, MI and Bristol, IN.
Replacing Mr. Jaksic as Business Unit President of the Automotive Brakes
Business Unit is Dan Sandberg. Mr. Sandberg, who was Vice President
International Operations and General Counsel, will head up the unit, which has
facilities located in Homer, Michigan and Monterrey, Mexico.
Leading the new Powertrain Components Business Unit of the Cast Components
Group will be Bob Lubienski. Mr. Lubienski was formerly the Director of
Aftermarket Operations and has held positions as Director of Manufacturing for
the Automotive Brakes Business Unit. Mr. Lubienski will oversee the Business
Unit's facilities in Wabash, IN, Petersburg, MI, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
In addition, the company announced two appointments in its North American
Automotive Wheels Group. Leading the Group in the new position of President
will be Ron Kolakowski. He is responsible for the North American Cast
Aluminum Wheels and North American Fabricated Wheels Business Units, and for
wheel operations in Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia and Japan.
Mr. Kolakowski has vast experience in the automotive supply industry. Mr.
Kolakowski, prior to being named to his new post, was President of the North
American Cast Wheels Business Unit and Plant Manager at the Fabricated Wheel
facility in Sedalia, MO. Before Hayes Lemmerz, Mr. Kolakowski was Vice
President - U.S. Operations and Vice President & General manager --
Industrial Products Division with Babcock Industries' ACCO Controls Group.
Reporting to Mr. Kolakowski, and succeeding him in his old position, as
President of the North American Cast Aluminum Wheels Business Unit will be Dr.
Gary Ruff. Dr. Ruff's most recent position was Executive Vice President and
Chief Technical Officer at CMI, where he was responsible for engineering,
sales, marketing, research and development, quality assurance, and strategic
planning activities of both CMI and A-CMI. He was also Chief Operating
Officer with responsibility for all manufacturing operations.
"These moves will enable us to maximize the strategic advantages of the
CMI acquisition and create an experienced management team dedicated to
expanding our role as a leading corner module supplier," said Ron Cucuz, CEO
and Chairman of Hayes Lemmerz in making the announcements. "With our new
team in place, we are now poised to pursue growth opportunities into the 21st
century."
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., with the completion of its acquisition
of CMI International, is one of the world's leading global suppliers of
automotive and commercial highway wheels, brakes, suspension, structural and
other light weight components. Together, the company has pro forma sales of
close to $2.5 billion with 40 plants, 11 joint ventures and over
15,000 employees worldwide.
For more information about Hayes Lemmerz International, please be sure to
visit the web site at http://www.hayes-lemmerz.com.