Fundamental change in MOCO leadership announced today
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Outstanding HDF Member
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Fundamental change in MOCO leadership announced today
The below link was posted by the MOCO today. It announces the retirement of the present CEO (Keith Wandel) who came from Johnson Controls back in 2009.
The newly elected CEO (Matt Levatich) has been with the MOCO for 25 years. He actually has a degree in engineering! I would view this as a big positive. As usual, everyone is free to draw their own conclusions.
http://investor.harley-davidson.com/...cle&ID=2013792
The newly elected CEO (Matt Levatich) has been with the MOCO for 25 years. He actually has a degree in engineering! I would view this as a big positive. As usual, everyone is free to draw their own conclusions.
http://investor.harley-davidson.com/...cle&ID=2013792
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: St Louis
I am have been an engineer for over 25 years and engineers do not always make the best leaders. We tend to think inside of our engineering box. No that's not a bad thing, but there are so many factors involved in running a large company like HD, that sometimes being an engineer is not enough. just my 2 cents.
Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Jayhawk Country
An engineer of what? I have found that title gets given out quite liberally and typically not earned.. Sanitation Engineer comes to mind.
Last edited by KCFLHRC; Feb 5, 2015 at 03:24 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
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Seems like pretty good qualifications to me. It's not like he was a nuts and bolts engineer yesterday and CEO today:
Levatich, 50, joined Harley-Davidson in 1994. Prior to becoming President and COO of Harley-Davidson Motor Company in May 2009, he held wide-ranging roles in the U.S. and Europe. Past leadership roles include Vice President and General Manager of Harley-Davidson's Parts and Accessories business, Vice President of Materials Management, and President and Managing Director of the Company's former MV Agusta business. In addition to an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Levatich holds a graduate degree in engineering management and an MBA from Northwestern University. He has served on the board of directors of Emerson, a St. Louis-based global manufacturing and technology company, since 2012.
Levatich, 50, joined Harley-Davidson in 1994. Prior to becoming President and COO of Harley-Davidson Motor Company in May 2009, he held wide-ranging roles in the U.S. and Europe. Past leadership roles include Vice President and General Manager of Harley-Davidson's Parts and Accessories business, Vice President of Materials Management, and President and Managing Director of the Company's former MV Agusta business. In addition to an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Levatich holds a graduate degree in engineering management and an MBA from Northwestern University. He has served on the board of directors of Emerson, a St. Louis-based global manufacturing and technology company, since 2012.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: MA
Being an engineer doesn't necessarily qualify or disqualify you from being successful in a large enterprise. I can relate multiple corporate failures with finance, marketing, sales, etc people at the helm. All it does is suggest that you understand critical thinking techniques and can add.......
my 2 cents
my 2 cents
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Carlisle, Ohio
Here is my 2 cents. I'd rather have an engineer at the helm than a bean counter. Too often large corporations lose site of their product by placing all the emphasis on the quarterly bottom line.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
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Seems like pretty good qualifications to me. It's not like he was a nuts and bolts engineer yesterday and CEO today:
Levatich, 50, joined Harley-Davidson in 1994. Prior to becoming President and COO of Harley-Davidson Motor Company in May 2009, he held wide-ranging roles in the U.S. and Europe. Past leadership roles include Vice President and General Manager of Harley-Davidson's Parts and Accessories business, Vice President of Materials Management, and President and Managing Director of the Company's former MV Agusta business. In addition to an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Levatich holds a graduate degree in engineering management and an MBA from Northwestern University. He has served on the board of directors of Emerson, a St. Louis-based global manufacturing and technology company, since 2012.
Levatich, 50, joined Harley-Davidson in 1994. Prior to becoming President and COO of Harley-Davidson Motor Company in May 2009, he held wide-ranging roles in the U.S. and Europe. Past leadership roles include Vice President and General Manager of Harley-Davidson's Parts and Accessories business, Vice President of Materials Management, and President and Managing Director of the Company's former MV Agusta business. In addition to an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Levatich holds a graduate degree in engineering management and an MBA from Northwestern University. He has served on the board of directors of Emerson, a St. Louis-based global manufacturing and technology company, since 2012.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Idaho Panhandle
I watched the video and based on the successful CEOs I work with in my business world, he will do fine. He has been groomed and trained for this position. He has not been an "engineer" buried in a single project, but has held jobs that required a broad outlook and successful team. I am confident that from our perspective, little will change.
Frankly, I am more concerned about the changes going on at the dealership level. I hope that Matt will find a way to push down some stabilizing influences on the dealerships. There are many retirements which have lead to changes of ownership, consolidations and buy outs and and locally, the owners sons taking over the operation. Many do not appear to be as well groomed to take charge at the dealership level as H-D has prepared Matt for corporate leadership.
Frankly, I am more concerned about the changes going on at the dealership level. I hope that Matt will find a way to push down some stabilizing influences on the dealerships. There are many retirements which have lead to changes of ownership, consolidations and buy outs and and locally, the owners sons taking over the operation. Many do not appear to be as well groomed to take charge at the dealership level as H-D has prepared Matt for corporate leadership.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 529
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From: Minnesota
+1. Amen to that!