VIP Awards Top Vendor Partners

New England automotive parts and accessories chain VIP Parts, Tires & Service announced the recipients of its Vendor Partnership Awards. Each year, VIP recognizes its best manufacturers, distributors, and rep agencies for outstanding performance.

The 2011 Vendor Partnership Award recipients include: Gold Eagle Co., Chicago, Vendor of the Year; John Hetzler & Associates, Fall River, Mass., Rep of the Year; Castrol/BP Lubricants USA Inc., Wayne, N.J., Category Management Partnership Award; Mothers Polishes, Waxes, Cleaners, Huntington Beach, Calif., Fill Rate Partnership Award; Remy Power Products, Edmond, Okla., Field Service & Training Partnership Award; Exide Technologies, Milton, Ga., Marketing Partnership Award; Qualis Automotive, Troy, Mic., New Products & Sales Growth Partnership Award; and Carroll Tire Co., Atlanta, Tire Vendor of the Year.

Suppliers must demonstrate superior performance in the areas of delivery, sales growth, marketing and promotions, training, category management and new product development to qualify for VIPs Vendor Partnership Awards.

“We are truly appreciative that so many of our vendors have embraced our new initiatives and our efforts in the area of category management and the growth we are experiencing is a direct result of the great work being done by companies like these,” said John Quirk, president and CEO of VIP Parts, Tires & Service. “Our award-winning vendor partners have delivered quality products and superior support to our people and most importantly, to our customers.”

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."