Directors of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. elevated the company’s president and CEO, David C. Dauch, to the additional post of board chairman. The change is effective immediately. The new chairman has been a member of the board of directors of AAM since 2009, and was named president and chief executive officer in September 2012.
Dauch joined American Axle in 1995, a year after the company's establishment.
American Axle’s past chairman, and co-founder, Richard E. Dauch, died on August 2. The younger Dauch also succeeded his father when he assumed his executive positions last year.
"I am honored and take great pride in being named chairman of AAM's board," Dauch stated. "My father's vision, passion and leadership have transformed AAM into the leading global automotive supplier that it is today. I look forward to leading the AAM board and the management team in executing our profitable growth plan while building value by delivering quality, technology leadership and operational excellence for our customers around the world."
AAM designs and manufactures driveline and drivetrain systems for light trucks, SUVs, passenger cars and crossover vehicles, as well as commercial vehicles. It also produces driveline/drivetrain components and modules, chassis systems, and other formed products. It has seven manufacturing plants and three technical centers in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as manufacturing operations in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, and Thailand.
"Naming David C. Dauch as chairman reflects his deep knowledge of AAM's global business and operations and the high regard in which he is held by the board of directors," stated Thomas K. Walker, the independent lead director of AAM's board.
"David has proven himself to be an outstanding and instrumental leader in the continued diversification of AAM's product portfolio, customer base and global footprint,” Walker continued. “The board is confident that David's experience and leadership, combined with the strong management team that has been assembled over the years, will take AAM successfully into the future."
