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By Counterman
NEXUS Automotive International’s global event, the NEXUS Business Forum, took place at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, between March 31 and April 2. The forum gathered 300 companies and more than 700 attendees from 96 countries.
It included the fourth edition of NEXUS Climate Day, “The Future is Ours” plenary session, and more than 3,000 speed-dating meetings that created new business opportunities and strengthened relationships within the N! Community. NEXUS CEO Gaël Escribe issued the “Lausanne Appeal,” urging the N! Community to embrace greater collaboration, particularly in unpredictable times, to achieve success and contribute positively to the overall automotive aftermarket industry.
“The Future is Ours” plenary session: unprecedented discussion with aftermarket associations
During “The Future is Ours” plenary session, NEXUS Automotive International hosted a roundtable bringing together, for the first time, leaders from influential aftermarket associations such as Bill Hanvey from the Auto Care Association and Chris Gardner from MEMA, representing the United States; Frank Schlehuber from Clepa and Sylvia Gotzen from Figiefa, representing Europe; and Wilson Ni of the Chinese Automotive Intelligence Society. During the session, the leaders of these organizations shared their insights into the short- and medium-term challenges that are redefining the industry.
Beyond identifying trends, they established a framework for cross-functional collaboration designed to advance the aftermarket ecosystem, turning regional concerns into a collective drive for progress.
“The Wise Guys” session: leaders share perspectives on the market’s evolution
A major highlight was “The Wise Guys” session including Arnd Franz, CEO of Mahle; Neil Fryer, vice president and general manager, global aftermarket, for PHINIA; Todd Hertzler, regional president, MA North America, Bosch; Cedric Dackam, president and general manager, automotive aftermarket, MANN+HUMMEL; Randy Buller, co-founder and chairman, The Parts Authority; and Gaël Escribe, NEXUS Automotive International’s CEO. This platform featured key industry players who shared perspectives on the market’s evolution.
In a display of strategic transparency, these leaders examined short- and medium-term challenges redefining the ecosystem. By establishing a framework for cross-functional collaboration, they turned individual concerns into a collective drive for progress and reinforced the N! Community’s role across the industry.
NEXUS Climate Day: from competitive advantage to value creation
The fourth
link hidden, please login to view Climate Day convened more than 300 participants to develop tangible solutions and share best practices. The event brought together sustainability specialists, suppliers and members of the N! Community, representing the entire NEXUS value chain. Panel discussions and proof-of-concept (POC) projects developed by Bosch, MANN+HUMMEL, SKF and TotalEnergies provided concrete guidelines for embedding sustainability within the industry. Escribe appealed for the foundation of an alliance to structure battery repair in Europe and territories where the EV car parc will generate major maintenance soon.
While individual efforts within the industry are taking shape, forming alliances across ecosystems can create the only answer to this major challenge: a collaborative approach.
Redesigned award ceremony
The annual
link hidden, please login to view award ceremony named DRiV as Supplier of the Year and Goldwagen as Member of the Year. In the heavy-duty category, Europart & Wijlhuizen were both recognized as Members of the Year. Individual honors went to industry leaders: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia from GSF was awarded Man of the Year, while Elodie Luce from TotalEnergies and Hasmeet Kaur from MANN+HUMMEL were both awarded Woman of the Year. North American partners Randy Buller from Parts Authority and Robert Roos from The Pronto Network were recognized with a Leadership Excellence Award and NEXUS Commitment Excellence Award.
ElringKlinger and MANN+HUMMEL shared Growth Champion in the Strategic Supplier category, while Purflux Group took the award for Preferred Supplier and ZF for Heavy-Duty. The bilstein group was named Customer Experience Champion.
NEXUS leadership on value creation and collaboration
“This Business Forum reflects the growing maturity of NEXUS and the new stage we are entering,” said Escribe. “We are becoming a group fully structured around high-value creation for our supplier partners, members, and the wider aftermarket ecosystem, in a context defined by transformation, growth, and collaboration. The 2026 NEXUS Business Forum has acted as a catalyst for building a more resilient aftermarket of tomorrow.”
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By Counterman
NEXUS Automotive International announced the appointment of Palle Willumsen as senior vice president of business development, effective March 16, 2026. Willumsen will lead business development efforts to support NEXUS’ market position and strengthen partnerships with major industry stakeholders. He will be responsible for executing NEXUS’ strategic objectives and ensuring continued growth.
Industry experience
Willumsen has more than 25 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, holding senior positions across sales, marketing and general management. He began his career as a sales manager and later advanced to senior leadership roles including vice president of sales and marketing and general manager.
His extensive experience reflects his knowledge of the automotive sector and leadership capabilities. His commercial and strategic track record supports his new role at NEXUS Automotive International.
Executive comments
“We’re thrilled to welcome Palle to lead our business development. His deep understanding of
link hidden, please login to view and his extensive experience will reinforce our status as a global leader and will further align NEXUS with the expectations of our suppliers,” said Gaël Escribe, CEO of NEXUS. “Palle’s remarkable career within the industry will play a key role in shaping the future of the NEXUS group.” “I am very excited to join
link hidden, please login to view and to work with such a dynamic and forward-thinking community,” said Willumsen. “Having spent many years in the automotive aftermarket, I truly value the power of strong partnerships and collaboration. I look forward to working closely with the NEXUS team, members and suppliers to drive growth and create new opportunities.” The post
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view has hired Jeremy Whiting as director of business development, supporting the East Coast and Southeast distributor territories. He will be based in Jacksonville, Florida. Whiting brings more than 15 years of experience in the heavy-duty industry and a multigenerational connection to the aftermarket. His role will focus on aftermarket distribution support, distributor engagement and supplier strategies across the two regions.
Role and Territory Coverage
Whiting will work with distributors across the East Coast and Southeast to strengthen regional coverage and support growth initiatives. His responsibilities include account development, network alignment and coordination around
link hidden, please login to view’s IMPACT Conference and related programs. “I’ve been attending the IMPACT Conference for several years, and the culture of this organization always stood out,” Whiting said. “VIPAR Heavy Duty feels like a family business. When the opportunity appeared, it felt like the right next step at this point in my life and career.”
Background and Industry Experience
Whiting began his career as an account manager for J.B. Hunt. In 2013, he joined his family’s business, Brookline Machine Company Inc., a long-standing member of the Power Heavy Duty network.
“Some of my earliest memories are going to truck shows and visiting Brookline as a kid,” said Whiting, reflecting on his history in the heavy duty industry. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
At Brookline Machine, Whiting progressed from inside sales/shop tech to operations manager. He managed $3 million in inventory across five branch locations in four states and led development and implementation of the company’s first e-commerce platform.
Distribution Strategy and Network Alignment
Whiting later expanded his industry experience at Neapco, a driveline supplier. As a regional sales manager, he managed distributor relationships and revenue operations across the East Coast and Southeast U.S., organized customer support efforts, managed rep agencies and oversaw VIPAR Heavy Duty IMPACT Conference participation.
Whiting notes that his transition comes with an advantage—he is already familiar with many distributors across his territory, including those he supported through Neapco and contacts from Brookline Machine. “I’ll be walking into meetings with people I’ve known for years,” he said. “It makes the transition feel natural.”
Leadership Transition
Whiting fills the position held by Dick Croft, who has served as a director of business development since 2001 and will retire Jan. 31, 2026. The transition supports continuity in distributor relations and regional coverage for the VIPAR Heavy Duty network.
“Jeremy’s extensive experience in the heavy duty aftermarket, combined with his deep understanding of distributor operations, makes him a strong fit for VIPAR Heavy Duty’s culture,” said Joe Meyer, vice president of business development. “He brings a relationship-driven approach, and we are confident Jeremy will seamlessly support our East Coast and Southeast territories.”
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By Counterman
The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), a community of the
link hidden, please login to view, announced registration is open for the 78th annual AWDA Business Conference. The event will take place Nov. 2-3, 2025, in Las Vegas. The AWDA Conference is a yearly business conference that brings together premier companies in the industry for one-on-one business meetings. This year, the one-on-one meetings will occur in the newly renovated Venetian guest tower of the resort.
A Longstanding Business Tradition in the Industry
AWDA, founded in 1947, is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their suppliers of parts, accessories and supplies for the motor vehicle aftermarket. Celebrating the 78th AWDA Conference marks a significant milestone. Everyone involved with AWDA feels honored to continue this tradition within the industry.
Business Conference One-on-One Meetings Drive Real Results
“Coming off the best AWDA Conference in recent memory, we are so excited to continue that momentum because this is the most meaningful engagement in the industry,” said Ted Hughes, executive director, AWDA. “These meetings are more productive than ever, giving distributors and suppliers unmatched access to high-level conversations that drive real business results. If you’ve never experienced it—or it’s been a while—this is the year to be part of it.”
Registration Deadline Set for August 15, 2025
All companies must register by Aug. 15, 2025, to participate in the AWDA one-on-one meetings. For further details, including company eligibility, hotel and registration information, visit the
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view proudly shares the story of its recent NTN Bearing Community Engagement event. This event took place at link hidden, please login to view in Lake Bluff, Illinois. On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, a dedicated group of NTN employees volunteered for the charitable organization. The organization sources and distributes new and gently used books to children in the Chicagoland area. Volunteers Pack and Inspect Books
With the help of volunteers, Bernie’s Book Bank has provided over 23 million books. These books went to families without children’s books at home since 2009. During this event, NTN volunteers packed eight books into bags for distribution. They also inspected donated used books to ensure their good condition. In total, NTN employees assembled 1,852 bags with 14,816 books for distribution.
NTN Bearing Community Engagement: Supporting Local Communities
“Over the past two years, we have formed a great relationship with Bernie’s Book Bank,” said Pete Eich, president of NTN Bearing Corporation of America. “For many of our employees who participated, including myself, we believe there is no better feeling than to reach out and help kids. Many of us have children or grandkids who love to have books read to them before taking a nap or going to bed at night. Unfortunately, there are kids in the Chicagoland area who do not have this same opportunity. Our involvement with Bernie’s Book Bank helps address this issue and brings the joy of reading to many children.”
NTN’s Community Spirit & Engagement Program
link hidden, please login to view launched its Community Spirit & Engagement Program in January 2023. This program focuses on managing the company responsibly and ethically. It also makes positive contributions to the community and builds partnerships with other organizations. The program encourages employees to take an active role in community service. This reflects NTN’s commitment to corporate citizenship. Looking Ahead to Future Community Outreach
“I am looking forward to strengthening our relationship with our established community partners during quarterly community outreach programs in 2025,” said Eich. “We also look forward to creating new partnerships.”
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