United States. IAC Group (International Automotive Components Group) has appointed Kevin Baird as its new CEO. Baird will replace David Prystash, who is retiring.
The company said Baird joins IAC after most recently serving as chief operating officer of Tenneco, a global manufacturer of automotive products for OEM and aftermarket customers.
At Tenneco, Baird was responsible for managing multinational operations at 196 manufacturing sites with 71,000 global team members. Prior to joining Tenneco, Baird served as president and chief executive officer of Guardian Glass, LLC, as well as president and chief executive officer of SRG Global.
"We are delighted to welcome Kevin as our new Chief Executive Officer," said IAC Chairman of the Board Phil Martens.
"He is a dynamic, values-driven business leader who has diverse experience and an excellent track record of strong performance in the global automotive industry."
"He has exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational efficiency and extensive experience in managing all aspects necessary for a successful global Tier 1 automotive supplier."
Baird noted, "While the automotive landscape is rapidly evolving with electrification, IAC is a uniquely positioned supplier, focused on providing its customers with the highest quality interior components."
"The increased emphasis all OEMs are placing on interiors as a powertrain-agnostic differentiator across all platforms provides IAC with a unique opportunity to become a true leader in this area."
"I look forward to partnering with IAC's leadership team and its more than 18,000 employees to continue producing best-in-class innovative products to serve our customers."
Michael Kreger, senior partner at Gamut Capital, an IAC investor, thanked Prystash for his tenure at IAC: "We appreciate David's leadership throughout the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shortage of semiconductor chips."
"David effectively steered the business through these headwinds and leaves IAC well positioned for continued success. We wish him even greater success as he embarks on the next chapter of his life."
