TOLEDO, Ohio (April 17, 2008) — Automotive parts maker Dana Holding Corp. has named former Toyota executive Gary Convis, 65, to the post of CEO.
Convis was appointed to Toledo-based Dana's new board of directors in January after retiring from Toyota Motor Corp., where he had spent more than 20 years, most recently as chairman of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky.
Dana Executive Chairman John Devine, who had served as the company's acting CEO since January, said Convis "is widely respected as one of the leading experts in lean manufacturing and management systems, including the Toyota Production System. Along with his strong leadership and global industry experience, we believe he is an ideal choice as our new chief executive."
In a prepared statement, Convis said he is "eager to join with our people in establishing world-class manufacturing systems and returning this great company to the leadership ranks of the global automotive supply industry."
He spent more than four decades in the automotive industry at Toyota, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. He became the first American president of TMMK, Toyota's largest plant outside Japan, in 2001 and was named chairman there in 2006 prior to retiring last year.