Experienced Sogefi manager to drive profitable development of Aftermarket filtration business
Guyancourt, October 14th, 2015 – The Board of Directors of Sogefi is pleased to announce the appointment of Mauro Prodi as Aftermarket General Manager with effect from October 2015. He brings considerable experience of all aspects of the filtration business in the OE and Aftermarkets to his new position, having worked for Sogefi both in Spain and at its French headquarters. His intimate knowledge of the sector guarantees continuity for the business and its customers.
Mr Prodi will be a key part of the team implementing new strategies for the future development of Sogefi’s activities under the direction of Mr Laurent Hebenstreit, appointed Chief Executive Officer last June.
Mr Prodi joined the company in 1991 as Management Accounting Director and since then has been Chief Executive of five different Group businesses in Spain subsidiaries, most recently as General Manager Europe of the Sogefi’s Engine Systems Business Unit. He replaces Andrea Taschini, who has left Sogefi to pursue other business interests. The board of Directors of Sogefi wishes Mr Taschini well for the future and extends its thanks to him for his valued contribution to the development of its Aftermarket business.
Lean structure
From October 1st, a new “lean” organisational structure brings all Sogefi Group activities into one of three product-oriented business units: Suspension Components, Air & Cooling and Filtration. The purpose of this is to create a lighter, simpler and more efficient structure throughout the Group, even better able to anticipate customer needs and to respond effectively to their requirements.
In recognition of the highly complementary nature of Sogefi’s OE and Aftermarket businesses, in the future they will work side by side as part of the now overarching Filtration Business Unit. This will increase even further the already strong relationship between the R&D centres and the plants, which develop and produce on the same lines of filtration products for OEM, OES and IAM channels. For IAM customers, this increased integration will facilitate the implementation of projects designed to improve further service, logistics and warehouse optimisation.
New team members
Supporting this development, the Sogefi Aftermarket team has been strengthened by the recent recruitment of two new senior executives, Mr Pierre Courant and Mr Jacques de Villeplée. Mr Courant joined the company as EMEA Aftermarket Sales Director last January. In this position he is coordinating the sales team to reinforce the current excellent relationship with customers. This includes the four leading international buying groups (Temot, Groupauto, ATR, Autodistribution) for whom Sogefi is a preferred supplier.
Mr de Villeplée has been appointed Aftermarket Sales Director for France, responsible for Sogefi’s biggest market where it is market leader through its brand Purflux. He will co-ordinate the activities of ten area managers.
Speaking about the new structure and appointments, Mr Prodi points out: “I am willing to take up the challenge to manage this important next step in the development of the Aftermarket business. There are already many synergies between the OE and Aftermarket activities of Sogefi which are of considerable benefit to our customers. Bringing the two units closer together within a single business unit makes operational and commercial sense for the company and will benefit all our customers, who are the true heart of Sogefi’s continued success.”