ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The international automotive industry is facing unprecedented change on several fronts. Leadership will be a critical factor in the coming years as a number of senior executives and managers face retirement.

To address the impact of this coming changeover, this year's Management Briefing Seminars Aug. 11-15 will offer a session focused on the future of automotive leadership, moderated by Sean McAlinden, chief economist and vice president of research at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), host of the event.

"The challenges of replacing the departing management due to retirement look historically large," said McAlinden. "This departure will have a major impact not just on specific manufacturing and supplier firms, but on the industry as a whole. This session will highlight the ways industry will be finding and promoting talent."

Speakers for the leadership session on Thursday, Aug. 14, include: Nancy Rae, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Communications, Chrysler LLC; Chris Hosford, Vice President of Communication, Hyundai; John McElroy, well-known automotive journalist and host of Autoline, a weekly half-hour television discussion program featuring top automotive executives and journalists; and Brad Marion, Senior Client Partner and Leader, Global Automotive Practice, Korn/Ferry International. A new addition to the speaker lineup, Dr. Kathryn Clark, President of Ann Arbor-based Docere and a former scientist with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will discuss the many leadership challenges faced by NASA.

In a separate session on Friday, leaders in purchasing, private equity and consulting, along with the leader of an automotive supplier, will discuss "Money Talks: A Supplier's Guide to Thriving in the Automotive Industry's New Financial Landscape," moderated by Bernard Swiecki, Senior Project Manager in CAR's Economic & Business Group.

Presenters include: Bo Andersson, Group Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors Corp.; Tony Brown, Group Vice President, Global Purchasing, Ford Motor Co.; John Campi, Executive Vice President, Procurement, Chrysler LLC; John Casesa, Managing Partner, Casesa Shapiro Group LLC; Scott Merlis, Managing Director, Capital Advisory, Ducker Worldwide; Douglas Grimm, Chief Executive Officer, Citation Corp.; and Jurgen Reers, Partner, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.

The overall Management Briefing Seminars theme, "Transcending Turbulence," will be addressed by other leaders from manufacturers, suppliers and other key stakeholders at the annual industry event Aug. 11-15 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa near Traverse City, Mich. The seminars attract more than 1,000 attendees who participate in targeted sessions, senior-level executive panels and highly valued networking opportunities.

In addition to the Thursday special session, the general automotive sessions on Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 13-14) will focus on critical global strategies. Speakers in the Monday-Tuesday (Aug. 11-12) sessions will address the globalization of manufacturing; the explosion of innovation and how it needs to be incorporate into products and processes; and the continued -- and growing -- impact of the connected vehicle. The Friday (Aug. 15) Advanced Powertrain Forum provides an update on developments, including the advances in biofuels and the electrification of the vehicle.

Courtesy: Center for Automotive Research

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 26 July, 2008 2:18:31 PM IST #