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JC Washbish Promoted to President & CEO of the Alliance
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By Counterman
MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association (MEMA) announced the retirement of its esteemed president and CEO, Bill Long, to be effective January 3, 2026. Under Bill Long’s visionary leadership, MEMA has seen significant growth and transformative changes that have solidified its position as a leading association in the industry.
“Throughout his tenure, Bill Long has been instrumental in fostering innovation, advocating for industry interests and strengthening
link hidden, please login to view role in shaping the future of motor and equipment manufacturing through some of the most challenging and transformative times in automotive history. His leadership, dedication and expertise have earned him widespread respect and admiration from colleagues and industry partners alike during his more than 40-year career,” said MEMA Chairman Kurk Wilks, president and CEO of MANN+HUMMEL.
In conjunction with Bill Long’s retirement, the link hidden, please login to view Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul McCarthy as the new president and CEO, effective January 3, 2026. Paul McCarthy brings a wealth of industry experience and a deep commitment to advancing MEMA’s mission. With his remarkable leadership skills and extensive industry knowledge, the MEMA Board is confident that in Paul McCarthy, they have selected the right leader to drive the association forward and take it to another level, building upon the strong foundation laid by Bill Long.
Paul McCarthy has been an integral part of MEMA’s leadership team, contributing significantly to its success as MEMA’s senior vice president of strategy and president of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. In his almost three decades in our industry, he has extensive experience in all of MEMA’s member segments: original equipment, commercial vehicles and the aftermarket. His vision for MEMA will enhance our value of member-centricity and our objectives of a powerful supplier voice, strong industry advocacy, innovation and excellence.
“I am deeply honored to have served as MEMA’s president and CEO and am proud of what we have achieved together,” said Bill Long. “I have full confidence in Paul McCarthy’s ability to lead MEMA into a bright and successful future.”
Paul McCarthy added, “I am excited to take on this new role, champion the supplier industry I am so passionate about and lead the talented team at MEMA. Together, we will serve our members and drive a growing, profitable, innovative and influential vehicle supplier community. We seek to be an association that is vital to our members’ success, protects suppliers and helps our members see the road ahead in a time of change.”
As MEMA embarks on this new chapter, the MEMA board extends its heartfelt gratitude to Bill Long for his exceptional service and contributions to the vehicle supplier community during his 13-year tenure at MEMA and his six years as president and CEO, and we look forward to the dynamic strategic vision of Paul McCarthy to lead us forward. The post
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By Counterman
The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, with support from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, announced the establishment of the Pat Biermann Memorial Heavy Duty Scholarship. This new heavy-duty scholarship honors the life and contributions of Pat Biermann. The Alliance described Biermann was a visionary leader in the heavy-duty aftermarket, a trusted advisor to the Alliance and a beloved colleague. Biermann passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the age of 75.
Honoring a Heavy Duty Scholarship Leader and Mentor
The Alliance said Biermann devoted more than 40 years to the heavy-duty aftermarket, leaving an indelible legacy through his leadership, innovation and dedication. As a co-founder and long-serving president of HD America (HDA), he helped propel the organization to a position of industry leadership. After retiring, he continued to contribute his expertise as a heavy-duty advisor and consultant for the Alliance. The Alliance added that Biermann exemplified the true spirit of “Heavy Duty”—facing challenges head-on, fostering growth and mentoring the next generation.
Pat Biermann’s Career Spanned Decades of Impact
A graduate of Washington University, Biermann rooted his career in engineering. His work spanned leadership and strategic development and significantly impacted the commercial vehicle and heavy-duty industry. Biermann’s efforts strengthened the industry’s foundation and prepared it for future growth.
Scholarship Supports Future Heavy-Duty Professionals
In tribute to Biermann’s memory and his direct contributions to the Alliance, the scholarship offers a one-time award of $2,500. It supports a student actively pursuing a career within the vital heavy-duty industry. Eligible career paths include Diesel Technician, Truck Driver (CDL training), Fleet Manager, Heavy Duty Parts Specialist, or a similar heavy duty-related field.
Legacy Invests in Skilled Hands-On Careers
“Pat Biermann was not only an industry giant but also a trusted advisor and friend to the Alliance’s Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Duty program. His insights were invaluable, and his passion for this industry was infectious,” said Mario Gonzalez, CVHD program manager for the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.
“Pat truly understood that the backbone of the heavy-duty world lies in the skilled technicians, drivers, parts specialists, and fleet managers who keep things moving.
By establishing this memorial scholarship—with the generous support of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation—we honor Pat’s legacy in a practical way: by investing directly in the dedicated individuals pursuing these essential, hands-on careers. It’s a tribute he would have deeply appreciated.”
The Alliance said it encourages students who are committed to building careers in these essential roles to apply for the scholarship.
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By Counterman
XL Parts | The Parts House announced the appointment of Vikrant Aggarwal as its new president and chief executive officer, effective April 21, 2025. Aggarwal will succeed Mike Odell, who will remain as chief executive officer of Marubeni Automotive Aftermarket Holdings, the parent company of XL Parts, The Parts House, C&K Auto Parts and other Marubeni investments in the U.S. automotive aftermarket.
“Vikrant’s extensive industry knowledge, operational expertise, and collaborative leadership style position him to continue to drive our commitment to delivering exceptional service, achieving sustainable growth, and guiding the organization to a prosperous future,” said Odell.
The succession plan Odell began several years ago when
link hidden, please login to view| link hidden, please login to view initiated the search for a chief operating officer. Aggarwal joined the company in September 2023 and was link hidden, please login to view. With more than 25 years of experience running global business functions, including a worldwide alternator business, XL Parts | The Parts House said Aggarwal has an admirable track record of success in the automotive industry. “I am honored to take on this new role and am excited to lead our incredible team at XL Parts | The Parts House,” said Aggarwal. “I look forward to continuing our growth by developing exceptional talent, ensuring consistently high standards of service for our customers, maintaining strong relationships with our valued vendor partners and continuing to represent the interests of our shareholders.”
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By Counterman
John Treece, chairman and CEO of
link hidden, please login to view, announced the promotion of Fred Snow to president and chief operating officer in the letter below: “As DMA strives to continue to grow and deliver excellence to our customers, building a strong and sustainable senior leadership team is imperative to our organization’s success. Today, I am pleased to announce Fred Snow will be assuming the title of President, along with his current role as Chief Operating Officer.
Fred brought with him to
link hidden, please login to view a very strong Automotive Aftermarket background and work experience in managing and running an organization similar to DMA. In his two years with our organization, Fred has comfortably assimilated into the DMA culture and exhibited thoughtful decision-making and leadership, while directly managing many of our key projects. He is now intimately knowledgeable about the workings of DMA, as he has been involved in most aspects of the business, extending beyond his direct responsibilities. I fully trust Fred’s ability to assess our business situations and make timely and deliberate decisions. He and I are fully aligned in the direction we steer the company and the effort it will take to achieve success. We both share a passion for serving the customer with a sense of urgency as our #1 priority. Fred’s areas of direct responsibility will remain the same as today: Supply Chain, Operations, Customer Service, Facility Management, and he will be assuming Product Management, and Engineering & Quality Management. This change of title acknowledges that Fred is assisting me in the overall day-to-day running of the company. It also represents that Fred is now my official backup for directing the company and making any required decisions in my absence. Fred also has full authority to sign on behalf of the company.
My role and responsibilities remain the same as CEO and Chairman of the Board. With the launching of our new joint venture factory SDI in Thailand and other corporate travel obligations, it was clear that the time had come when DMA needed someone officially in charge when I am unavailable. This evolutionary organizational step assures the stability and consistency that positions DMA to continue to be a fast-acting and customer-responsive company with clear lines of leadership and communication for our employees.
I am confident that this change is another positive milestone in the development of DMA. Please join me in congratulating Fred on this well-deserved appointment.”
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By Counterman
MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers announced that Brad Beckham, CEO of O’Reilly Auto Parts, will deliver the customer keynote at the
link hidden, please login to view on April 2, 2025 at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Chicago. Beckham will share insights from the customer perspective. Serving as CEO since 2024, Beckham’s journey in the O’Reilly organization began in 1996 at the age of 17 as a parts specialist. From that first role, Beckham progressed through the roles of store manager, district manager, region manager, divisional vice president, vice president of eastern store operations and sales, senior vice president of central store operations and sales, executive vice president of store operations and sales, executive vice president and COO, and, finally to Co-president before becoming CEO. With this breadth of experience, he has a vast knowledge of retail automotive operations and a deeply rooted dedication to the O’Reilly company culture,
link hidden, please login to view said. “We are honored to have Brad as the customer keynote speaker for this year’s Vision Conference,” said Paul McCarthy, president of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. “Brad’s long career with O’Reilly has been defined by exceptional leadership, operational expertise, and an unwavering commitment to delivering industry-leading customer service. O’Reilly has set the recent customer standard for success and his insights into what drives that success will offer invaluable lessons to attendees as we navigate the future of the aftermarket together.”
Who Should Attend Vision, According to MEMA?
Suppliers seeking to connect with peers and key customers. Channel partners looking to collaborate on innovations and growth strategies. Private equity investors eager to explore opportunities in the dynamic aftermarket industry. The MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Business Technology Council, Modern Industry eXpertise (MiX) and the Aftermarket Suppliers CEO Council will hold meetings immediately before Vision on April 1 at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel. The Marketing Executives Council and Mobility Technology Council will hold a meeting right after the conference on April 3.
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