APMA selects new president

After 12 years, there’s going to be a new head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA).

Current APMA president Gerry Fedchun has announced plans to step down at the end of the year. Effective January 1, 2010, APMA’s new president will be Steve Rodgers.  A past chairman of APMA, Rodgers’ business also background includes stints at ABC Group, Magna International and General Motors Corporation. Most recently he was president of GS Global Solutions.  

“Gerry has served our association well over the past 12 years, and has been very busy over the past 15 months as we have dealt with a particularly severe automotive crisis,” said APMA chairman Sam Alesio. “In order to ensure an orderly transition, and to continue to serve our members, Gerry will continue on as a part time advisor to the APMA as executive director and will chair a newly created legal affairs committee.  We are also very pleased that Steve is joining us as president.  We know him well and he has an exceptional range of experience and skill sets to serve our members.”

Rodgers has pledged to continue working towards the organization’s primary goal of developing trade and business opportunities for the membership. “APMA will continue to undertake every measure possible to assure the competitiveness of our automotive suppliers, an advanced manufacturing industry that is core to Canada’s continued economic strength,” he said.

Toronto-based APMA is Canada’s national association representing OEM producers of parts, equipment, tools, supplies and services for the worldwide motor vehicle industry. According to APMA, the organization’s members account for approximately 90 per cent of Canada’s $24 billion (2008) industry, employing 79,000 workers.