Continental’s Jerry Gabbard Retires; James Bayley Named New Vice President of Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket in North America
Allentown, Pa., March 30, 2015 – International automotive supplier Continental announced the retirement of Jerry Gabbard as Vice President and General Manager of the Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM) business unit within the company’s Interior Division, a position he has held since December 2007. Gabbard retires after 13 years of dedicated service with Continental.
James Bayley succeeds Gabbard, assuming the position of Vice President and General Manager of CVAM in North America. In this role, Bayley will be responsible for the organization’s strategic development and overall executive management for its Commercial Vehicles, Specialty Vehicles, Aftermarket, Transportation Technologies, and Original Equipment Services business segments. Bayley will also oversee the design engineering, customer support, and focus factory resources at Continental’s manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico.
As a 10-year veteran of Continental, Bayley has held a variety of assignments within the company, including Business Development Manager and Global Sales & Portfolio Manager. His most recent position was Director of FIAT Chrysler Customer Center, Instrumentation & Driver HMI business unit within the company’s Interior division.
Before joining Continental, Bayley worked at Visteon Corporation and Ford Motor Company. He has more than 24 years of experience in the fields of engineering, project management, sales, and business development.
Bayley earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan and his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Detroit. He is an active member of a number of industry trade organizations including the Original Equipment Supplier Association (OESA), the Motor Equipment and Manufacturing Association (MEMA), and the American Trucking Association.
The CVAM Business Unit accommodates the specific requirements of the commercial vehicle, special vehicle and aftermarket sector. Covering the product brands Continental, VDO, ATE and Barum, the Business Unit offers electronic products, systems and services for commercial and specialty vehicles, products for the Independent Aftermarket, and spare parts for Original Equipment Services after end-of-series production by the vehicle manufacturer. With more than 80 years of experience in the commercial vehicle segment, the CVAM Business Unit develops and produces products that make commercial and specialty vehicles safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient.
About Continental
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner, the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe, comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated preliminary sales of approximately €34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental currently employs approximately 200,000 people in 53 countries.