Haldex's American CEO steps down; will focus on North American market

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The American CEO of Haldex has announced he is stepping down as CEO of the company effective Dec. 1.

Jay Longbottom cited difficulties in managing a publicly-listed company based in Sweden from the US as a reason for his decision. He'll be replaced by Ulf Ahlen, former executive vice-president of Haldex Traction as acting CEO until a permanent replacement is found, Haldex announced.

Longbottom will remain with Haldex as president of North American operations and will also serve as executive vice-president for the Haldex Air Control division.

"My commitment to Haldex will not in any way change," Longbottom said. "From a personal point of view this is the best solution for all parties since it has shown to be very difficult to combine living in the US and leading a global company with its headquarters in Sweden."

"We respect Jay´s decision to step down as CEO of Haldex," says Goran Carlson, chairman of the Board of Haldex AB. "Jay is a well-liked manager who has greatly added to the company's development. We are pleased that Jay will be able to focus more on the North American market and take on the role as head of the important Air Control Division. At the same time we have secured a smooth transition with Ulf Ahlen as acting CEO, who with his Haldex Group background will add valuable experience and competence."

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Fleets Focus on Emissions, SmartWay's Bynum Says

By Rip Watson, Senior Reporter

This story appears in the Oct. 24 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — The new federal rule designed to reduce truck greenhouse-gas emissions by 10% or more starting in 2014 effectively is forcing manufacturers to focus on selling advanced pollution-reduction equipment to fleets that today don’t have the technology such as auxiliary power units, a government official said.

That was a key message from Cheryl Bynum, director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program to attendees at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exposition here.

Her agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year set the first-ever standard for cutting emissions of carbon dioxide from engines and tractors. The standards take effect in the 2014 model year, with stricter emissions standards to become effective starting in 2017.

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