Navistar Announces Management Shake-Up
Truck and engine maker Navistar International Corp. announced a shake-up June 28, promoting Michael Cancelliere to president of the truck and parts businesses and shifting Bill Kozek from that job to a focus on electric vehicles and other advanced or disruptive technologies.
In a statement, Lisle, Ill.-based Navistar said Cancelliere has been senior vice president of global parts and customer service and that in his new job he will report to Chief Operating Officer Persio Lisboa.
Cancelliere, 58, is a 37-year Navistar veteran.
The company also said Bernardo Valenzuela is returning as vice president for exports and president of Mexican and global operations. Valenzuela, 50, worked for Navistar for 16 years through 2014, when he moved to Terranova GTS, a developer and distributor of specialty commercial vehicles in Latin America.
The statement said Valenzuela also will report to Lisboa.
In its most recent quarterly earnings reports, Navistar management said the export of used North American trucks is an increasingly important part of the original equipment manufacturer’s business.
At a press conference, also June 28, Lisboa said Navistar exports new and used trucks. Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are big target markets, and the company sells a wide array of vehicles, including heavy-duty vocational models and highway tractors, as well as medium-duty commercial vehicles.
“These leadership and structural changes will bring even greater focus to several critical revenue areas of our business,” Navistar Chairman and CEO Troy Clarke said in the statement. “They represent another important step on our journey toward sustainable profitability through growth and expansion in our core and select global markets.”
The second half of Navistar’s current fiscal year is doing better than the first six months through April 30. “Stronger business is definitely a reality,” Lisboa said.
He emphasized that Navistar’s strategy for boosting sales includes updated vehicle offerings in all segments, including its LT and RH highway tractors — for linehaul transportation and regional haul, the HX series for vocational vehicles, as well as new medium-duty trucks. The company also is developing Class 4 and Class 5 trucks with General Motors Co.
Earlier this year Navistar added a new 12.4-liter, heavy-duty diesel truck engine, the A26, made in Huntsville, Ala.
Navistar’s main truck-making plants are in Springfield, Ohio, and Escobedo, Mexico
Kozek, 54, had been president of the truck and part businesses since June 2013, when he joined Navistar after a lengthy career with rival Paccar Inc. Kozek had been, sequentially, general manager of both Paccar truck brands: Kenworth Trucks and Peterbilt Motors.
The company statement said Kozek will “assume a planning role focused on emerging industry opportunities” and will report to Clarke. While the company described what Kozek will be working on, it did not say what his job title or level will be.
“Bill stepped in during a challenging time for our company four years ago and did a great job steadily rebuilding the International Truck brand, restoring confidence and improving consideration with customers,” Clarke said.
Navistar’s parts business generally has been profitable in recent quarters, but the truck business has posted losses. The truck division has had to fight against a general slump in North American truck sales since 2016, and problems unique to Navistar, which has been reorganizing and fixing problems from previous management.
Asked if he should now be considered the heir apparent to Clarke, Lisboa side-stepped.
“We’ll reserve the future for the future,” he said, adding that management is united in the “big job” of making Navistar successful for customers and shareholders.
