Genuine Parts Co announces leadership teams after split

By Greg Peters • Wednesday, September 09 13:09 • Permanent Link

Genuine Parts Company has named the leadership teams that will run its two businesses after the planned split, while keeping the separation timetable pointed to the first quarter of 2027.

Court Carruthers, currently a GPC board member, was named chief executive officer-elect of the automotive business, effective immediately. He will become CEO when the separation closes. Jean-Jacques Lafont, also a current GPC board member, was named non-executive chairman of the future GPC. Will Stengel, GPC’s current chairman and chief executive officer, will move to Motion as chairman and chief executive officer once the breakup is complete.

The company also elevated Bert Nappier from executive vice president and chief financial officer to executive vice president, chief financial and operating officer of GPC, effective immediately.

For the automotive company, the post-split leadership team will include Carruthers, Nappier, Jenn Hulett as chief people officer, Chris Galla as general counsel and corporate secretary, Alain Masse as president, North America automotive, Franck Baduel as CEO, European automotive, and Rob Cameron as managing director and group CEO, Australasia.

Carruthers brings a record that includes a stint as chief executive of TricorBraun, where revenue and EBITDA tripled during his tenure, and more than 100 acquisitions over his career. Before that, he spent 13 years at W.W. Grainger, including as group president, Americas, overseeing a $9 billion distribution business.

On the Motion side, James Howe was elevated to president and chief operating officer, effective immediately, after serving as Motion’s president since 2024. Howard Yu was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Motion. Kevin Stone will serve as executive vice president, chief information officer, and Billy Hamilton as executive vice president, chief human resources officer.

Yu most recently served as CFO of Ball Corporation and previously was CFO of Envista Holdings, where he helped lead the company’s separation and IPO in 2019.

GPC said the two investor days will be held in New York City on consecutive days: GPC on December 8, 2026, and Motion on December 9, 2026. The company reiterated that the separation remains on track for the first quarter of 2027. The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares 0.4% to a price of $134.59. For more information, read the company's full 8-K submission here.

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