European automotive supply body CLEPA says PSA board member Jean-Marc Gales will replace current incumbent Lars Holmqvist who is retiring after eight years at the helm.
CLEPA president Peter Tyroller announced the move today (4 January) in Brussels where Luxembourg-born, and present PSA Peugeot Citroen managing board member Jean-Marc Gales, will take up his post from 2 April this year.
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Prior to PSA, Gales was with Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, General Motors and BMW and replaces Holmqvist, who was at the forefront of representing European suppliers still owed at least EUR150m (US$196m) following Saab’s recent bankruptcy.
“Lars will not retire entirely – he is going to pursue other careers in the automotive industry – he won’t stop,” a CLEPA spokesman told just-auto from Brussels. [Gales] will be leaving PSA and he will be full-time.”
CLEPA is a hugely influential body, representing around 5m workers in the automotive sector and has a key lobbying role – and access to – politicians and decision makers at the highest level in the European Union and the United Nations.
“He (Gales) brings immense business experience and I am confident he will continue the solid track record of Lars Holmqvist, who is retiring after eight years at the helm of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers,” said Tyroller.
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By GlobalData“With his enthusiasm and professionalism he has increased the visibility and the profile of CLEPA as one of the main trusted interlocutors with the EU institutions and the United Nations.”
Holmqvist has been engaged in daily telephone conversations with former Saab CEO Victor Muller during the past few months as both battled to find a way to save the Swedish automaker although its eventual bankruptcy did not come as a complete surprise.
“I wish to thank all CLEPA members for their support and ask them to support Jean-Marc in the same way,” said Holmqvist.
“I have full confidence in Gales’s global leadership capabilities based on his experience, his knowledge of the automotive industry and his ability to convince and to engage people. These skills will be crucial for achieving CLEPA’s forward-looking goals.”
