DENSO Announces North American Executive Personnel Changes

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global automotive supplier DENSO is pleased to announce changes to its North American executive management team. These changes support DENSO's expansion and growth in the North American region.

DENSO in North America

Mike Brackett, senior vice president of Corporate Services at DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee has assumed the roles of vice president of North American Corporate Planning and vice president of North American Human Resources at DENSO International America, Inc. In these roles, Brackett will be working at both DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee in Maryville, Tennessee, and DENSO International America, in Southfield. He is responsible for strengthening the competitiveness of North American business operations, as well as establishing the direction for human resources within the region.

Dave Grimmer, vice president of DENSO Manufacturing Michigan, Inc., also will now serve as a lead for North American Production and Promotions Center at DENSO International America, Inc. in Southfield. Grimmer will manage North American core projects and support plants in order to strengthen DENSO's manufacturing foundation.

Steve Milam was appointed president of DENSO Manufacturing Canada, Inc., and vice president of Business Planning and Accounting for DENSO's Thermal Americas Center. In this dual role, Milam will seek to achieve extreme efficiency at DENSO Manufacturing Canada through implementation of lean principles.

DENSO International America, Inc.

Roger Berg has assumed additional responsibility as vice president of North American Research and Development at DENSO International America's Silicon Valley, California office. Complementing work being done at its North America Research and Development center in Vista, California, he will now also lead the development of new product ideas for non-automotive, aftermarket, light vehicle and heavy duty business. Previously, Berg served as vice president of Wireless Technologies.

Tom Esser was promoted to vice president of Ford Global Sales at DENSO International America. Located in Southfield, he is responsible for overseeing global sales and marketing activities, including sales expansion and management of the group. Previously, Esser served as director of Ford Global Sales.

Dr. Gary Horvat has joined DENSO International America, Inc., in Southfield, as vice president of Powertrain and Electrical Hardware and Systems. In this role, he is responsible for the design, development and application of powertrain products for North American automotive customers.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions and employs nearly 140,000 people.

Currently in North America, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people at 32 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 28 are manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In the U.S. alone, DENSO employs more than 17,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Alabama and Arkansas. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaling US$7.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.

SOURCE DENSO International America, Inc.