NGK SPARK PLUGS (U.S.A.), INC. TODAY ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL SCHWAB TO PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NGK SPARK PLUGS (U.S.A.), INC.
Nagoya, Japan – NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD. has announced the appointment of Mr. Michael Schwab to Corporate Officer of NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD. (Japan), Regional President of Pan-America and Australia (PAMA Region), President and CEO of NGK SPARK PLUGS (U.S.A.), Inc., effective April 1, 2019.
Mr. Schwab has spent his entire career in the automotive industry and has served as Senior Vice-President since 2012. Additionally, he has been an active member of the Global Management Team since 2013 for NGK, a leading supplier of automotive parts and technical ceramics worldwide. Mr. Schwab will replace Yoshitaka Narita, who will return to the Nagoya, Japan Global Headquarters, and will oversee Regional Headquarters Governance worldwide.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the CEO of NGK SPARK PLUGS in the USA since 2016, and I am incredibly proud of everything our team has accomplished together in the last 3 years,” said Mr. Narita. “We’ve made sustainable improvements to our operations and meaningful progress toward our top company goals and priorities, including manufacturing, supply chain, operations and more importantly the establishment of the foundation for PAMA Regional Headquarters.”
“The Board of Directors in Japan and I are confident that Mike is the right person to build on this momentum,” Mr. Narita continued. “He is a strong leader with significant experience and dynamic leadership in our company, operating effectively and efficiently, and delivering value to our customers, our employees and to the investment community. We are proud to have him as Corporate Officer and our next CEO of USA operations.”
Mr. Schwab, a St. Louis, Missouri native, started his career in the aftermarket and entered the company as a field sales person in 1990 with responsibility for the central United States. In 2001, Mr. Schwab was transferred to the Wixom, Michigan (USA) headquarters and has served in several executive capacities since.
“NGK has been a key part of my career, and it is a fantastic organization,” commented Mr. Schwab. “I am honored and very enthusiastic to lead the strategic development of NGK SPARK PLUGS, and to continue in delivering outstanding results. Thanks to the efforts of my predecessor Mr. Narita, we have a very capable and high-energy team, and we are positioned well for our future success.”
About NGK SPARK PLUGS – The World Leader in Spark Plug and Sensor Technology
Since 1936, NGK SPARK PLUGS has been the world leader in technology, innovation, and world-class quality in the design of spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Today, NGK manufactures ignition products, oxygen sensors, technical sensors and vehicle electronics for virtually every automotive manufacturer in the world.
NGK has built a reputation for quality and reliability, and a commitment to excellence continues to be the driving force behind the company’s advanced research and development programs. With state-of-the-art manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities, NGK provides customers with world-class products and services.
In addition to serving OE automotive and aftermarket customers, NGK also produces spark plugs for motorcycle, power sports, marine and small engine manufacturers. NGK also offers complementary product lines including resistor caps, spark plug wires, and high-performance cables.
In North America, NGK is headquartered in Wixom, MI and maintains manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities in Irvine, CA, Sissonville, WV, and Chicago, IL.
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