Fastening technology specialist Acument Global Technologies has named American Axle Manufacturing Holdings (AAM) executive Richard (Rick) Dauch as president and CEO from 2 June. He is the son of AAM co-founder and chairman, Dick Dauch. Meanwhile, AAM on Thursday said David Dauch would become president and chief operating officer, effective 1 June.

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An Acument statement highlighted Rick Dauch’s spell as AAM’s head of worldwide manufacturing where he was responsible for daily operations of 17 worldwide manufacturing locations, including start-up plants in Poland and China, as well as the forge division.


Prior to American Axle, Dauch headed the specialty products and packaged products businesses of United Technologies’ Carrier Corporation business unit.


“I look forward to working with the entire Acument Global Technologies team as we implement an aggressive plan for market expansion within a rapidly changing global environment,” Dauch said in the statement.


He replaces Joseph Gray who headed the supplier after its acquisition by Platinum Equity from Textron in 2006.

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“Platinum Equity greatly appreciates [Gray’s] dedicated leadership during Acument’s transition to a stand-alone business, and his successful reorganisation of the company into its current operating structure over the past 18 months,” said Platinum Equity principal Mike Scott.


Newly-named AAM president and chief operating officer David Dauch was previously executive vice president and COO.


He joined AAM in July 1995 as manager, sales administration, was appointed director of sales, GM full-size truck programmes in May 1996, and was named vice president, sales and marketing in August 1997. Dauch also served as vice president, manufacturing, driveline division; senior vice president, sales, marketing and driveline division; senior vice president, commercial; and executive vice president, commercial and strategic development.