Standard Motor Products announced its chairman and CEO, Lawrence Sills, will retire effective March 31, 2016; he will become executive chairman of the board of directors. Eric Sills, president, will succeed him as CEO and will be appointed to the board of directors.

Also effective March 31, COO John Gethin will retire and will join the board of directors; James Burke will be appointed executive vice president of finance and CFO; Dale Burks will be appointed as executive vice president and chief commercial officer; and directors Arthur Sills and Peter Sills will retire as members of the board of directors, each assuming the role of director emeritus.

Since he started with the company in 1991, Eric Sills has been responsible for manufacturing, engineering and distribution operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Poland, plus joint ventures in Taiwan and China.

Burke, currently CFO and vice president of finance, has been with the company since 1986, beginning with EIS Brake Parts.

Burks, currently vice president of global sales and marketing, began his career as a territory salesman in 1984 and has held positions of increased responsibility since that time. He will be appointed to the office of the chief executive, which will now consist of Eric Sills, Burke and Burks.