Akebono names new director of aftermarket business unit

Akebono Brake Corporation has appointed Russ Stebbins to the newly created position of director, aftermarket business unit.

Akebono president and CEO Wilm Uhlenbecker said Stebbins will be responsible for leveraging Akebono’s industry-leading braking technologies to secure new opportunities for growth of the company’s aftermarket business in NAFTA and LATAM regions.

“Our reputation and success in delivering best-in-class friction products provides a strong platform by which to extend our value more widely in the aftermarket,” he said. “Russ’s experience in growing technology brands will help us develop the strategies to grow this business.”

Stebbins said he is looking forward to working with the company’s sales and marketing director, Ken Selinger, and the rest of the aftermarket team.

He joins the company from his most recent role as director of the automotive aftermarket for Lumileds, LLC.

Prior to that, he held several positions of increasing responsibility at various global locations with TRW Automotive (now ZF Friedrichshafen AG).

Stebbins also worked at Takata Corp., Autoliv, Inc., and Dura Automotive Systems, LLC.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University and a master’s degree in engineering management from The University of Michigan.

Stebbins will be based in Farmington Hills, Mich., reporting directly to Uhlenbecker.