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Automotive News World Congress to Convene Industry Leaders for Millennium Outlook, January 10-13 in Detroit
DETROIT, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 40 of the world's most innovative and successful automotive executives will take part in the "1999 Automotive News World Congress co-sponsored by Automotive News and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Congress will take place Jan. 10-13, at the Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit.
This year's theme is "Opportunities for the New Millennium." Industry leaders will discuss issues and trends that will affect automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers well into the next century. Keith Crain, publisher and editorial director, Automotive News, said, "This is the most dynamic World Congress we've put together thus far due to the impact of DaimlerChrysler, the spin-off of Delphi from GM, and the continuing evolution of the rest of the supply chain."
The three-day program will include six panel discussions exploring turn- of-the-millennium issues in globalization, retailing, powertrains, engineering, marketing, advertising and media, intelligent transportation systems and the world following the merger of Daimler and Chrysler.
The Congress will get under way Sunday evening, Jan. 10, when Juergen E. Schrempp, Chariman, DaimlerChrysler, and Robert J. Eaton, Chairman, DaimlerChrysler deliver keynote speeches during the opening dinner. Since announcing the proposed merger in May, both executives have been familiarizing themselves with each other's operations and seeking synergies that will save the merged company time and money.
On Monday morning, speakers will include Mark Hogan, Vice President & General Manager, NAO Small Car Group, General Motors; James Julow, General Manager, Dodge Division, DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Dr. Henrich Heitmann, Chairman & CEO, BMW (U.S.) Holding Corp.; and Mong-Gyu Chung, chairman of Hyundai Motor Corp.
On Monday afternoon, the first OEM panel will discuss increasing globalization in "The Global World: How Big Is Big Enough? What's Nationality Got To Do With It Anyway?" Panel members will include Dr. David E. Cole, director, Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan; Rudolf A. Schlais, Jr., President, General Motors Asian & Pacific Operations; Peter A. Schweitzer, President, J. Walter Thompson Company; Ricardo Martinez, M.D., Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and Craig Muhlhauser, President, Visteon Automotive Systems.
At the same time, another OEM panel will discuss "Powertrains of the Future." Members will be: David W. Hermance, General Manager, Powertrain Division, Toyota Technical Center, U.S.A., Inc.; Donald L. Runkle, General Manager, Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems, General Motors; Robert C. Stempel, Chairman, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.; Firoz Rasul, President & CEO, Ballard Power Systems Inc.; and Gordon Willis, Chief Engineer -- Automatic Transmissions, Powertrain Operations, Ford Motor Co.
On Monday afternoon, the industry's move toward public ownership and how consolidation efforts are changing the financing of dealer business will be discussed by the first retail panel comprised of: Ross H. Roberts, President, Ford Investment Enterprise Corp.; Tony March, CEO, March/Hodge Holding Company; Michael Maroone, President, Automotive Retail Group, Republic Industries/AutoNation USA; John MacDonald, Vice President, Sales & Service, DaimlerChrysler Corp.; B.B. Hollingsworth Jr., Chairman, President & CEO, Group 1 Automotive Inc.; and Sheldon Sandler, Senior Managing Director & CEO, Bel Air Partners, LLC.
Monday evening's keynote speakers will be Louis R. Hughes, Executive Vice President, New Business Strategies, General Motors; and Minoru Nakamura, President & CEO, Nissan Motor Corp. U.S.A.
On Tuesday morning, three automotive leaders known for their business savvy will address the Congress. They will be James Padilla, Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford Motor Co., James Press, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Automotive Operations Group, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.; and Don Walker, President & CEO, Magna International Inc.
An OEM panel will address styling and environmental concerns when they "Think Globally, Act Locally" on Tuesday afternoon. Panelists will include Lou Kincaid, Vice President & General Manager, Product Engineering, Johnson Controls Inc.; Chris Theodore, Vice President, Platform Engineering, DaimlerChrysler Corp.; Jay Wetzel, Vice President and General Manager, General Motors Technical Centers; Neil Ressler, Chief Technical Officer, Research & Vehicle Technology, Ford Automotive Operations; and Charles Allen, Vice President and General Manager, Honda Research & Development Americas Inc.
At the same time, a second OEM panel will convene to address issues pertaining to "Intelligent Transportation Systems: Status, Trends and Opportunities." Members will be Ronald P. Knockeart, Vice President, Intelligent Transportation Systems -- North America, Siemens Automotive; Jean- Francois Poupinel, Chairman & CEO, ERTICO, Intelligent Transportation Systems; T. Russell Shields, Chairman, Navigation Technologies; and Nobuo Yumoto, Senior Managing Director, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
Concurrently, six top marketing executives will take part in the second retail panel discussion "Marketing, Advertising and New Media". Members will include: David Ropes, Director, Corporate Advertising & Integrated Marketing, Ford Motor Co.; Elisabeth Vanzura, Director, Marketing & Advertising, Volkswagen of America Inc.; Joe Cronin, Vice Chairman, Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide; Philip Guarascio, General Manager, North American Advertising & Corporate Marketing, General Motors; Arthur (Bud) Liebler, Vice President, Marketing, DaimlerChrysler Corp.; Mike Jackson, President, Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.
Finally, keynote speakers for Tuesday night's gala dinner will be Jacques A. Nasser, President & CEO, Ford Motor Co., and Bruno Sacco, Senior Vice President, Design, Daimler-Chrysler AG. |
