Separately, Greg Kern, vice president of Accuride’s Imperial Group business unit who had previously reported to Sparks, now will report directly to Dauch.
“Scott Hazlett has done an exceptional job revitalizing our core Wheels business, while directing the launch and commercialization of critical new aluminum wheel manufacturing capacity this year,” says Rick Dauch. “He is a highly effective operations leader, and I am confident that he will complete the manufacturing improvements and consolidation underway at Gunite with speed and efficiency. The members of Accuride’s Leadership Team appreciate Ken Sparks’ contributions to the company’s positive momentum and wish him the very best in his retirement.”
Hazlett joined Accuride as senior vice president and general manager, Accuride Wheels, in October 2011 from Kansas City-based MachineryLink, Inc., an early-stage agricultural services firm, where he had served as president and CEO since 2006. Previously, he was a partner with Detroit-based industrial turnaround firm Conway, Mackenzie & Dunleavy and contributed to its interim management and operations practice.
Sparks joined Accuride Corporation in 2009 and subsequently led its Imperial, Gunite, and Brillion business units, as well as the former Bostrom business unit. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and general manager, Gunite and Imperial. In 2011, he was vice president and general manager of Gunite and Brillion, and in 2010 was vice president and general manager of Structural Products, which then included the Imperial and Bostrom units.
