Intermet Exec Changes Continue

Oct. 23, 2007
New appointments called part of "strategic growth plan"
Intermet Corp. has reorganized its executive management team, calling the changes "another step … in the execution of its strategic growth plan." The Fort Worth-based foundry and diecasting organization stated that the personnel moves will expand executive and operating skills in critical areas. Intermet manufactures cast parts for the automotive, commercial-vehicle, and industrial markets. Among the changes, Troy Jonas has been appointed group president for the Intermet Ferrous Group, giving him responsibility for the operations in Lynchburg, VA (Archer Creek Foundry), Columbus, GA, Hibbing, MN, and Radford, VA (New River Foundry.) He has more than 15 years of experience in manufacturing, notably at implementing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma programs. Before joining Intermet, he held various leadership positions at Q Investments, Bombardier Aerospace, and Lockheed-Martin. Steve Lake was appointed Intermet's executive vice president, Sales and Strategy, making him responsible for customer relationships and overall business strategy. He has 24 years of manufacturing and metalcasting industry experience, and joined Intermet after having been CEO of Columbus Steel Castings Co. Intermet states he will help to build "top line revenues in the years ahead." Lake is the former president of the company's Domestic Ferrous Group, and is credited with integrating those four operations into a cohesive unit. Jonas and Lake will report directly to Intermet president and CEO Jeff Mihalic. "Troy and Steve have earned the support and confidence of the senior leadership team and our board of directors in a very short period of time," Mihalic stated. "Both have spent more than six months preparing for their new roles to ensure a seamless transition. Their appointments will allow us to keenly focus on our strategy of becoming a stronger, more customer-focused company that is nimble and responsive to ever-changing customer requirements." Earlier this year, Intermet formed a new business unit, Intermet Die Cast, and named Eric Showalter as the group president. He had been the head of Intermet's Missouri Operations, and was credited with overseeing a restructuring of those three plants, as well as implementation of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives. Now, Intermet reports that Showalter will be leaving the company at the end of this month for personal reasons. Until his replacement is named, Mihalic will have responsibility for the Die Cast Group. "Each of our operating groups has made tremendous progress over the past two years. We've experienced some real breakthrough improvements through our lean initiatives and our sales effort has excellent momentum. We will maintain our focus on lean manufacturing and attention to customer satisfaction through this leadership transition," said Mihalic.