Oct 27, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Accuride Realigns Organization to Support Global Growth

Accuride Corporation – a leading supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries – today announced that it has realigned its organizational structure and made key appointments among its executive leadership team to support the company’s continued expansion as a leading supplier of wheels and wheel end solutions to the global commercial vehicle industry.

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Accuride Corporation realigns its organizational structure and appoints presidents of its three busi ...

Accuride Corporation realigns its organizational structure and appoints presidents of its three business units to support the company's continued expansion. (Photo: Business Wire)

Accuride is consolidating its wheel end components businesses – the previously stand-alone Gunite unit and the KIC business it acquired in May 2017 – into a single new business unit, Accuride Wheel End Solutions. John A. Schneider, who joined Accuride as President of KIC, has been appointed to serve as President of Accuride Wheel End Solutions. The value-adding products and technologies of this new business unit will continue to be marketed under the well-known KIC and Gunite brands respected by customers throughout the North American commercial vehicle industry.

In addition, Accuride has reorganized into two separate, coordinated business units for commercial vehicle wheels: Accuride Wheels North America and Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia. Gregory A. Risch, previously President of Accuride’s Gunite business unit, has been appointed President, Accuride Wheels North America. Scott D. Hazlett, previously President, Wheels, now serves as President, Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia. Risch, Hazlett and Schneider report directly to Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch.

“These organizational changes and appointments better align our team to efficiently lead and operate Accuride following our acquisition of KIC, while supporting our continued global expansion initiatives, including completion of our pending acquisition of Mefro Wheels GmbH, which is now undergoing routine merger clearance review with appropriate authorities,” Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch said.

John A. Schneider – President, Accuride Wheel End Solutions

John Schneider has been appointed President of the newly formed Accuride Wheel End Solutions business unit that fully integrates Accuride’s newly acquired KIC business with its Gunite business unit. In his new role, Schneider has full P&L responsibility for the combined unit, including wheel end component production and assembly facilities in the United States, and a network of global contract manufacturing operations for certainty and flexibility of supply. Schneider joined Accuride in May 2017 with the acquisition of KIC. He had served as President of KIC since June 2016 and previously led KIC’s dramatic sales growth as Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer. He served as Vice President, OEM Sales for Accuride from 2005-2006, following Accuride’s acquisition of TTI Holdings. He previously held sales roles with TRW and Peerless Corporation.

Gregory A. Risch – President, Accuride Wheels North America

Greg Risch has been appointed President, Accuride Wheels North America, and has full P&L responsibility for the business. Previously President of Gunite, Risch now will lead Accuride’s steel and aluminum wheel production and tire/wheel assembly operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as its wheels engineering and product development teams. Earlier in his 23-year career with Accuride, Risch had served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from October 2011 to November 2015. His other leadership roles included Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, and Director of Financial Planning and Reporting. He began his tenure with the company on the Finance team at the Henderson Operations steel wheel manufacturing plant in Henderson, Kentucky.

Scott D. Hazlett – President, Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia

Scott Hazlett has been appointed President, Accuride Wheels Europe and Asia, with responsibility for planning and leading Accuride’s expanding presence in Europe and Asia, which will include the efficient integration of the Mefro Wheels manufacturing and distribution operations in Germany, France, Turkey, Russia and China once the acquisition has received final regulatory clearance. In addition, Hazlett retains responsibility for Gianetti Ruote, Accuride’s majority-owned steel-wheel operation in Milan, Italy. After joining Accuride in October 2011, Hazlett led the capacity and capability upgrade of Accuride’s Gunite and Wheels businesses as Senior Vice President of Operations. He previously held leadership roles in the agricultural and transportation industries with TriMas and CNH, and as a Partner with industrial turnaround specialist Conway Mackenzie.

About Accuride Corporation

With headquarters in Evansville, Ind., USA, Accuride Corporation is a supplier of components to the North American and European commercial vehicle industries. The company’s products include commercial vehicle wheels and wheel-end components and assemblies. The company’s products are marketed under its brand names, which include Accuride®, Accuride Wheel End Solutions™, Gunite®, KIC® and Gianetti Ruote™. Accuride is a portfolio company of Crestview Partners. For more information: www.AccurideCorp.com.