NOVI, Mich.—Cooper Standard Automotive Inc. has appointed Jeffrey DeBest to the newly created position of president, Advanced Technology Group.
He will be based at the firm's global technology center in Livonia, Mich., and oversee the firm's Advanced Technology Group, which is responsible for exploring opportunities for Cooper Standard's material science innovations in non-automotive markets.
"With his extensive operations, engineering, portfolio management and leadership background, Jeff brings the unique skillset required to foster the success of our new Advanced Technology Group," Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Edwards said in a statement. "Our material science advancements have the potential to transform products across many industries, with near term focus in the construction, wire and cable, and footwear markets, and I'm pleased that Jeff is onboard to lead this endeavor."
Prior to joining Cooper Standard, DeBest served as chief operating officer of APM Terminals B.V., one of five companies within the Maersk Group of Copenhagen, Denmark. In that position, he had full operational responsibility for the company's more than 100 terminals and depots, as well as managed its transition from a holding company into an operating company.
While at APM Terminals, DeBest held numerous board positions with APM regional companies. He also served as a senior vice president of A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, where he was a member of its global leadership council.
From 1997 to 2014, he held a series of leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Johnson Controls Inc. Most recently, he served as group vice president of the auto supplier's worldwide interiors group. He started his career at Prince Corporation, later purchased by Johnson Controls, as the service parts manager.
Headquartered in Novi, Cooper Standard is a global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry.