Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Middle East Foam & Polyurethane
  • UTECH Asia/PU China
  • UTECH Europe
  • UTECH Las Americas
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Ukraine
  • News
    • Asia
    • Americas
    • Europe
    • M & A
    • Financial results
    • Automotive
  • Data
  • Information
    • Country Overview
    • Market Sector overviews
    • Technical articles
    • Company profiles and strategies
  • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Conferences
    • Webinars / Livestreams
    • Become a Speaker
    • UTECH Europe 2021
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 16, 2007 12:00 AM

Sources: Macher will resign as ceo of Collins & Aikman

Utech Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    By David Barkholz, Automotive News

    Detroit, Michigan-Frank Macher is on the verge of resigning as chief executive officer of Collins & Aikman Corp., said sources close to the bankrupt interiors supplier, on 15 Jan 2007.

    He is expected to resign once details of his departure are settled, the sources said.

    Macher, a 30-year Ford Motor Co. veteran, took the helm of Collins & Aikman in July 2005, two months after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection without cash or a plan to operate. He kept parts shipping as Collins & Aikman's automotive customers infused nearly $200 million in loans and price increases to prop it up.

    Macher's role, though, has diminished in recent weeks after management and creditors decided last quarter to sell the company in pieces rather than bring it out of Chapter 11 as a stand-alone company. Detroit 3 customers also made massive production cuts in the fourth quarter.

    In his last public appearance, Macher said in October that suppliers should have a "bill of rights" with their automaker customers. He said automakers should not pay less than cost for parts and said they should be penalised when they exaggerate anticipated production volumes.

    Macher also got into a high-profile spat with customer Ford Motor Co. when Collins & Aikman briefly interrupted parts shipments for one shift to Ford's Fusion sedan plant in Hermosillo, Mexico.

    Collins & Aikman spokesman David Youngman said Macher has not resigned. Youngman declined further comment. Macher was traveling today and could not be reached for comment.

    Collins & Aikman is one of North America's largest interiors suppliers and has parts on most vehicles made in North America.

    The investment-banking company Lazard Ltd. is handling the sale of Collins & Aikman's major assets. Those include its soft-trim business, which Cerberus Capital Management LP has pledged to buy. It also includes Collins & Aikman's Hermosillo interiors plant. That plant supplies about $300 million in complete interiors to the Fusion platform, which is also used for the Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ.

    Before joining Collins & Aikman, Macher helped shepherd Federal-Mogul Corp. in bankruptcy. Macher also worked at Ford for 30 years before retiring in 1996. His last job at Ford: running the auto parts operations that were spun off to create Visteon in 2000. In 2005, Macher nearly returned to Ford to run former Visteon plants taken back by Ford as part of a bailout of the supplier.

    Executive vice president Susan Armstrong left Collins & Aikman just before Christmas, Youngman confirmed. She joined the company about the time that Macher came aboard, he said.

    Collins & Aikman, of Southfield, Mich., ranks No. 54 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers, with worldwide original-equipment automotive parts sales of $2.80 billion in 2005.

    PIC: Collins & Aikman automotive products range from flooring to instrument panels, as seen in the Cadillac DeVille."

    Recommended for You
    gng group mattress factory normanton 800
    GNG Group opens new UK mattress factory
    FRX flame retardant makes it into more cars
    FRX flame retardant makes it into more cars
    basf madgamma concept shoe 800
    BASF and Maddy Plant create sustainable concept shoe
    Latest Issue
    Urethanes Technology International June/July 2022
    Click HERE for Free Download
    View All Archives
    Get our newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Register to access our archive of leading information on the polyurethanes industry.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube

    Follow us on social media for the latest polyurethanes industry news and event updates.

    Logo
    Contact Us

    Crain Communications
    11, Ironmonger Lane
    London
    EC2V 8EY
    United Kingdom

    Editorial
    Phone +44 (0) 20 3287 5935
    Email click to send

    Customer Service
    Phone +1 313 446 0450
    Email click to send

    Resources
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright Ā© 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Ukraine
    • News
      • Asia
      • Americas
      • Europe
      • M & A
      • Financial results
      • Automotive
    • Data
    • Information
      • Country Overview
      • Market Sector overviews
      • Technical articles
      • Company profiles and strategies
    • Events
      • Exhibitions
      • Conferences
      • Webinars / Livestreams
      • Become a Speaker
      • UTECH Europe 2021
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Issues
    • Subscribe