Cooper Standard rejigs senior leadership team

Northville, Michigan – Cooper Standard Automotive will see some major changes in its leadership team this summer, hiring and promoting three executives with more than 80 years of experience in the automotive systems and components industry.

Effective 1 Aug, Patrick Clark will replace Hans Helmrich as senior vice president and chief global manufacturing officer. Helmrich is leaving Cooper Standard for another position.

A familiar face, Christopher Couch will remain in his role as leader of global technology functions, and will become head of global product development, product strategy and product team management.

D. William Pumphrey will remain as leader of the global automotive business, and will take responsibility for corporate strategy and Cooper Standard's "return on invested capital improvement initiative."

Clark will relocate to Europe in early 2021 and lead the company's manufacturing operations. With 26 years of experience in the auto industry, he also will serve as chair of Cooper's global manufacturing council, which focuses on implementing best practices and efficiency in operations.

Couch, who has more than 21 years of manufacturing, research and development and technology development experience, will focus on customer-based solutions and product strategy for Cooper's automotive product lines. 

He also serves as chair of the Global Technology Council, which oversees development in materials science, product design, manufacturing process technology, analytics and artificial intelligence.

Pumphrey will continue to oversee Cooper Standard's automotive business, and also will become head of corporate strategy to help lead the return on invested capital improvement initiative. He has more than 36 years’ experience in the industry.

Cooper Standard employs about 28,000 people throughout 21 countries and produces sealing, fuel and brake delivery and fluid transfer systems.