AASA Launches New Marketing Council

Open to marketing executives of AASA member companies, the council plans to meet four times a year to address issues affecting North American aftermarket manufacturers and work together to strengthen the overall industry. One of the four meetings will be an annual day-and-half conference that will include aftermarket organizations, customers and speakers.

“The AASA board of directors discussed a need for a council where aftermarket supplier marketing executives can collaborate to help improve the state of the North American manufacturer base and the overall industry image,” said AASA executive director Steve Handschuh. “This Council will serve a major role in helping AASA communicate to key audiences and develop strategies and action items to advance our industry. We invite all manufacturers to participate and help AASA further itself as the voice of the aftermarket supplier.”

Brian Tarnacki, director of brand marketing at Federal-Mogul Corp., was named chairman. Brian Altenberger, global marketing director of Delphi Product and Service Solutions, will serve as the council’s vice chairman.

The council’s advisory members include:
Mark Boyle, director of aftermarket marketing, Visteon Corp.;
Bill Dennie, director of channel management, Tenneco;
Layne Gobrogge, vice president of marketing support, Proliance International;
Scott Howat, director of corporate communications, Affinia Group Inc.;
Donald James, marketing director at Continental Teves;
Dil Kulathum, vice president of international sales and marketing, Cardone Industries;
Tom Tecklenburg, vice president of sales and marketing, Bendix North America, Honeywell CPG;
Dave Touchette, director of aftermarket sales and marketing, Cooper Bussmann

The council’s first meeting is slated for early October.

More information about the AASA Marketing Council is available by contacting Theresa Spera, the group’s AASA staff liaison, at 919-406-8854 or [email protected].

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company said its first quarter 2024 sales were $4.5 billion, with tire unit volumes totaling $40.4 million. For the first quarter, Goodyear's net loss was $57 million compared to a Goodyear net loss of $101 million a year ago. Leadership said the year-over-year improvement was driven by increases in segment operating income. The 2024 period also included items like, on a pre-tax basis, Goodyear Forward costs of $28 million and rationalization charges of $22 million, compared with pre-tax rationalization charges of $32 million in 2023. Goodyear said Goodyear Forward costs are comprised of advisory, legal and consulting fees and costs associated with planned asset sales.