Siemens VDO Automotive’s Trading & Aftermarket Division Changes Name

Siemens VDO Automotive Corp.’s Trading & Aftermarket division has changed its name to Service & Special Solutions and restructured its North American management team in order to provide a higher level of value to the customer. The name change is intended to better characterize the scope and nature of the group’s business activities and respond to aggressive growth objectives and a sharper customer focus.
"We want to grow our North American business three-fold over the next four years,” Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. Service & Special Solutions-North America Vice President Wolfgang Winzer, “We will focus on adding new products, developing strategic business relationships with other companies and actively seek viable acquisitions in order to increase our offerings. In addition to new products, we also intend to expand the breadth, coverage and availability of our current product lines."
Along with the name change, a new divisional management structure was implemented with corresponding updated personnel assignments.

Sales

All sales activities are centralized under the leadership of Director of Sales Sean Stanic. Stanic is charged with taking advantage of the company’s world-class customer base in order to generate exponential growth over the coming years.

Marketing and Business Development

Under the guidance of Howard Laster, the Marketing and Business Development group is concentrating on developing new business opportunities by evaluating internal product offerings, as well as seeking business relationships utilizing mutual manufacturing, engineering, customer base and sales and marketing expertise to provide unique solutions. As Director of Marketing and New Business Development, Laster also is responsible for product management, marketing communications and pricing strategies.

Engineering Services

Bill Setter heads this vital support team, which includes technical support, application engineering and special projects. He also is responsible for ISO certification, SAP R3 implementation, inventory optimization and other cross-functional activities.

Customer Service and Purchasing
These departments are now combined under the experienced leadership of Dan Rubio. His group also interfaces with the company’s global supply base and provides the primary contact for logistic-related issues, such as product availability, delivery issues and forecasting.

Distribution Center
Peter Huerst is responsible for warehouse operations, which includes packaging, final window lift motor assembly and shipping. Huerst also is the SAP specialist for the Allentown locations.

Finance and Accounting
Cindy Longley and her team of professionals will continue to manage and administer the group’s vital finance and accounting activities.

Siemens VDO Automotive is a tier-one supplier of automotive electronic/electrical systems and components with applications covering gasoline and diesel powertrain technologies, safety and chassis systems, body electronics, plus interior products including infotainment systems. Worldwide sales reflecting fiscal year 2001/2002 totaled $8.5 billion. For more information: www.usa.siemensvdo.com. Siemens AG (NYSE: SI), headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. Siemens and its subsidiaries employ 426,000 people in 192 countries and reported worldwide sales of $77.8 billion in fiscal 2002 (10/1/01 – 9/30/02).