Delphi Announces New Operating Sector and Staff Leadership Structure
Two Senior Executives Elected to Board of Directors
TROY, Mich., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Delphi Automotive Systems (NYSE: DPH - news) Chairman, CEO and President J.T. Battenberg III, today announced several changes to streamline the company's sector reporting structure and staff alignment. The changes are designed to increase Delphi's responsiveness to customer and market demands, speed product development for integrated systems and modules and spread the use of common processes and systems throughout the company. The company expects to improve performance and capture opportunities for additional structural cost reduction as a result of the changes.
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In addition, the Delphi Board of Directors elected two new members to gain additional company perspective and oversight.
The leadership changes include the nomination of five current officers into executive vice president positions, three to oversee Delphi's operating sectors, and two to lead corporate staffs. As part of Delphi's matrix organization structure, the individuals named to these and other positions announced today also assume responsibility as a senior executive customer liaison or as a leader of a corporate task team responsible for streamlining systems and implementing corporate-wide policy. These positions increase the total Delphi senior officer count by one, to a total of 22, which is lean relative to other Fortune 100 companies according to Battenberg.
''Throughout 1999, we have focused on establishing Delphi Automotive Systems as an independent company with a culture of innovation, global growth and superior customer service,'' said Battenberg. ''These changes facilitate quicker decision-making and promote greater collaboration across functions, regions and operating units thereby improving Delphi's capability to meet its commitments and business objectives. The refined organizational structure should accelerate the implementation of common manufacturing, engineering and administrative processes throughout Delphi, speeding our capability to design, manufacture and market integrated vehicle systems and modules combining several elements of our broad product portfolio. Our new structure places capable, experienced leaders in position to drive these important priorities.''
To oversee Delphi's three operating sectors, three individuals from within Delphi have been promoted to newly established positions as sector president and corporate executive vice president. All appointments are effective Jan. 1, 2000.
•Rodney O'Neal, 46, is named sector president of the Safety, Thermal & Electrical Architecture sector and corporate executive vice president. He also takes on the added role of Ford Motor Company customer champion; a position designated to guide Delphi's relationship with Ford. O'Neal had been president of Delphi Interior Systems. Reporting to O'Neal are James A. Bertrand, newly appointed president of Delphi Interior Systems, Ronald M. Pirtle, president of Delphi Thermal Systems, David R. Heilman, president of Delphi Packard Electric Systems and Bill Collins, customer director for the Ford account.•Donald L. Runkle, 54, is named sector president of the Dynamics & Propulsion sector and corporate executive vice president. Runkle is also elected to the Board of Directors of Delphi Automotive Systems. Runkle becomes champion for Delphi's global cross-divisional manufacturing task team and retains his role as DaimlerChrysler customer champion. Runkle previously was president of Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems. Reporting to Runkle are Guy C. Hachey, newly appointed president of Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems division, Paul J. Tosch, president of Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems and Charles L. Rose, customer director for the DaimlerChrysler account. Francisco A. Ordonez, general manager of the recently established Delphi Aftermarket division will also report to Runkle.•David B. Wohleen, 49, is named sector president for the Electronics and Mobile Communication sector and corporate executive vice president. Wohleen had been president of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, and continues in that capacity. He takes on additional responsibility for Delphi's global cross- divisional engineering task team and becomes customer champion for General Motors and GM Service Parts Operations (GM SPO). Elisabeth M. Schwarting, customer director for the GM and GM SPO account will report to Wohleen.
Two new executive vice president positions are being established to lead Delphi's corporate staff activities. All appointments are effective Jan. 1, 2000.
•Alan S. Dawes, 45, is named corporate executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Dawes is also elected to the Board of Directors of Delphi Automotive Systems. He had been vice president and CFO. He takes on added responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, and information systems worldwide. Reporting to Dawes are John P. Arle, vice president of mergers and acquisitions, John G. Blahnik, vice president and treasurer; and Peter H. Janak, vice president and chief information officer.•Mark R. Weber, 51, is named executive vice president, operations, production control and logistics, human resource management and corporate affairs. Weber had been vice president, human resources. Reporting to Weber are Karen L. Healy, vice president of corporate affairs and facilities; Kevin M. Butler, newly elected vice president of human resources; and Mark C. Lorenz, vice president of operations and logistics.
''The Delphi Board of Directors will benefit from the extensive automotive and business experience of Don Runkle and Alan Dawes. Both will provide valued input and company perspective,'' said Tom Wyman, lead director of the Delphi Board of Directors. ''We look forward to their active participation in the work of the board.''
Battenberg announced several additional changes including new divisional leadership posts and the assumption of added responsibilities by existing officers.
•James A. Bertrand, 42, is named president of Delphi Interior Systems and corporate vice president, succeeding O'Neal. Bertrand, who previously was vice president in charge of operations and GM customer champion, will report to O'Neal.•Kevin M. Butler, 44, is elected Delphi vice president of human resources, succeeding Weber. He will report to Weber. Butler was general director of human resources at Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.•Guy C. Hachey, 44, becomes president of Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems and remains a corporate vice president. He was formerly president of Delphi Chassis Systems. He will report to Runkle.•Karen L. Healy, 45, becomes vice president, corporate affairs and facilities. She was previously vice president of corporate affairs. She now adds responsibility for Delphi's worldwide facilities group. She will report to Weber.•Mark C. Lorenz, 49, is named vice president of operations, with responsibility for manufacturing, production control and logistics, and engineering coordination. Lorenz had been vice president, production control and logistics. He will report to Weber.
Additionally, after seven years leading significant Delphi growth in the Asia-Pacific region, Asia-Pacific president William Ebbert will retire in early 2000. James A. Spencer, 46, is elected president, Delphi Asia-Pacific and corporate vice president, and replaces Ebbert. Spencer was formerly director of sales, marketing, ventures and planning for Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems. Spencer has extensive Asia-Pacific experience, having served as executive vice president, Daewoo Automotive Components (DAC), a joint venture between Delphi and Daewoo Motors. Spencer's election is effective Feb. 1, 2000.
''Bill has provided outstanding guidance and leadership as Delphi seeks to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. He has cultivated strong customer relationships and represented Delphi well. We are confident of Jim's ability to continue our expansion and support of customers in the region,'' said Battenberg.
Jose-Maria Alapont, Delphi Europe president, Volker J. Barth, Delphi South America president, Jim Spencer, Delphi Asia-Pacific president, Logan G. Robinson, Delphi vice president and general counsel and Ray C. Campbell, vice president of purchasing, continue to report to Battenberg. Alapont remains customer champion for BMW, Fiat, Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Volkswagen. Spencer becomes customer champion for Honda, Isuzu, Nissan and Toyota. Customer directors for Delphi's customers not mentioned in today's announcement maintain their existing reporting relationships within their regions.
All 22 senior corporate officers are members of the Delphi Strategy Board, the company's top policy and strategy committee.
Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, is a world leader in automotive component and systems technology. Delphi's three business sectors -- Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety, Thermal & Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communications -- provide comprehensive product solutions to complex customer needs. Delphi has approximately 201,000 employees and operates 168 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 38 joint ventures, 51 customer centers and sales offices, and 27 technical centers in 37 countries. Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Delphi can be found on the Internet at delphiauto.com .
This press release, other than historical financial information, contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Delphi's Securities and Exchange filings, including without limitation, in Items 1 and 7 of Delphi 's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and Item 2 of Delphi's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and Sept. 30, 1999.
SOURCE: Delphi Automotive Systems |
