Standard Motor Products Announces Key Management Changes

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Standard Motor Products Announces Key Management Changes

Standard Motor Products has announced that Chairman and CEO Lawrence “Larry” Sills plans to retire as CEO of the company and will become executive chairman of the board of directors effective March 31, 2016. Eric Sills, president, will succeed him as CEO and will be appointed to the board of directors.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
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SMP - Standard Motor Products

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Standard Motor Products has announced that Chairman and CEO Lawrence “Larry” Sills plans to retire as CEO of the company and will become executive chairman of the board of directors effective March 31, 2016. Eric Sills, president, will succeed him as CEO and will be appointed to the board of directors.

Also effective March 31, 2016, Chief Operating Officer John Gethin, will retire and will join the board of directors; James Burke will be appointed executive vice president finance and chief financial officer (CFO); and Dale Burks will be appointed as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. In addition, directors Arthur Sills and Peter Sills will retire as members of the board of directors, and each will assume the role of director emeritus, at that same time.

Eric Sills is the son of Larry Sills and has been with the company since 1991. He has been responsible for manufacturing, engineering and distribution operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Poland, plus joint ventures in Taiwan and Foshan, China. Under his leadership, the company has increased manufacturing capacity, expanded production in low-cost areas, and successfully integrated eight acquisitions over the past few years. He holds a masters of business administration from Columbia University and has completed the Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School.

Burke, currently CFO and vice president finance, has been with the company since 1986, beginning with EIS Brake Parts. Burks, currently vice president global sales and marketing, began his career as a territory salesman in 1984 and has held positions of increased responsibility since that time. Burks will be appointed to the Office of the Chief Executive, which will now consist of Eric Sills, Jim Burke and Dale Burks.

William Turner, Standard Motor Products’ presiding independent director, stated, “We are very pleased to announce these management changes, which are part of the company’s ongoing succession planning process. Larry has been our CEO since 2000 and during that time the company’s net earnings more than quadrupled in size. We thank Larry for all of his efforts and for his leadership to the company. Although he is stepping down as CEO, serving as executive chairman will allow Larry to continue to provide leadership and contribute to the company’s strategy.

“The board of directors is also delighted to appoint Eric Sills as the next CEO and member of the board. Eric represents the fourth generation of the Fife and Sills families leading the company. We have worked extensively with Eric over the past several years, and he has excelled in achieving the company’s strategic objectives. Our board believes Eric’s leadership skills, strategic vision and business acumen will continue to serve the company and its shareholders well.

“The board would also like to thank Arthur Sills and Peter Sills for their services to the board for the past 20 and 11 years, respectively, and we appreciate their many contributions to the board and to the company. We look forward to maintaining our association with them as emeritus directors.

“Finally, the board would like to thank John Gethin for his 20 years of service to the company. We believe that his extensive industry background, leadership skills, and strategic focus will continue to be valuable assets to the company, and we look forward to continuing to work with him as a member of the board. John will also serve as an outside consultant to the company, and we plan to make full use of his detailed knowledge of the customers and the industry.

“The board of directors is confident that these changes will enable the company to make a smooth transition into the future. With this fine group of talented and experienced people, we look forward to the years ahead,” Turner concluded.

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Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

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Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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