Farmington Hills, Mich. – Apr. 11, 2016 – Akebono Brake Corporation today announced the appointment of Dr. Wilm Uhlenbecker as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He will succeed interim president and chief executive officer, Mr. Kanji Miyajima, who will now serve as executive advisor to Dr. Uhlenbecker.
Dr. Uhlenbecker has held a series of leadership roles throughout his career. Most recently, he was president of MAHLEBehr USA, Inc., where he successfully led the acquisition and integration of Delphi’s Thermal Management North American business into MAHLE Behr. He joined Behr in 2007 as chief operating officer of Behr America where he led a successful turnaround of the company through strategic cost reductions and manufacturing footprint restructuring activities. Later he assumed the role of president and chief executive officer of Behr America.
“We are excited to have Wilm join the Akebono family,” said Hisataka “Chuck” Nobumoto, president and chief executive officer, Akebono Brake Industry, Co., Ltd. “His track record of successful leadership in a multi-cultural global environment speaks for itself. He will be a valuable addition to our organization.”
Dr. Uhlenbecker’s prior experience includes management positions in engineering, quality, and operations. He holds a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering and a master of business administration degree from RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
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About Akebono Brake Corporation
Akebono Brake Corporation is a leader in advanced brake and friction material development and production, with a focus on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) analysis and control. Akebono manufactures a wide range of brake friction materials and foundation brake assemblies, including disc brake calipers and drum brakes. The company’s commitment to innovation, process improvement, quality control and customer service has positioned it as a key resource for leading OEMs, Tier I brake suppliers and the automotive aftermarket. For more information, visit www.akebonobrakes.com.
About Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE:7238), founded in 1929, is a world leader in advanced brake and friction material development and production. The Akebono Group operates R&D centers and manufacturing facilities worldwide, such as in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia. Akebono has been supplying and jointly developing brake systems with the McLaren Formula 1 team since 2007. For more information, visit www.akebono-brake.com/english/index.html.
Contact
Jennifer Carlson
Akebono Brake Corporation
(248) 489-7483
jennifer.carlson@akebono-usa.com