New CEO for Parts Manufacturer Dana Holding

US automotive parts manufacturer Dana Holding Corporation has announced the appointment of Gary L. Convis as its new CEO, replacing John Devine, who has held the role in an acting capacity since January. The company, which recently exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy, appointed Convis to its Board of Directors in January 2008, shortly after he retired from Toyota, where he had served for more than 20 years, most recently as chairman.

“Gary is widely respected as one of the leading experts in lean manufacturing and management systems, including the Toyota Production System. Along with his strong leadership and global industry experience, we believe he is an ideal choice as our new chief executive,” said Dana Executive current chairman, John Devine.

Convis brings to Dana almost 40 years of automotive industry experience, gained at Toyota, General Motors and Ford. The 65-year old became in 2001 the first American to be appointed president of Toyota’s largest plant outside Japan, the Toyota Motor Manufacturing facility in Kentucky. Furthermore, he was he was the first American manufacturing executive appointed by Toyota Motor Corporation to be a managing officer of TMC, as well as executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc..

Before that, he worked for New United Motor Manufacturing, a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, for 16 years. He was then named the chairman of TMMK in 2006, just before his retirement in 2007. “I am honoured by the Board’s confidence in me to lead Dana,” Convis said. “I’m also eager to join with our people in establishing world-class manufacturing systems and returning this great company to the leadership ranks of the global automotive supply industry.”

Convis has a bachelor degree in mathematics from the Michigan State University.