PORTLAND, OREGON and LADSON, S.C. -- Freightliner LLC today named John Stevenson president of American LaFrance. Stevenson, who most recently managed Freightliner LLC's largest manufacturing facility, will now lead the company's American LaFrance fire and emergency apparatus subsidiary.
Based in Ladson, S.C., American LaFrance is one of the oldest and most renowned companies in the fire and emergency equipment business. American LaFrance produces and distributes a comprehensive line of fire and emergency apparatus including chassis, aerials, ambulances, pumpers, rescues, tankers and wildland vehicles. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, a DaimlerChrysler company.
"Freightliner LLC is very pleased to name John Stevenson as the new president of American LaFrance," said Rainer E. Schmueckle, President & CEO of Freightliner LLC. "John's strong manufacturing background coupled with his proven leadership abilities and customer focus make him a great choice to lead the American LaFrance organization."
Stevenson is a veteran of the North American commercial vehicle manufacturing business. Since December 2001, he has served as plant manager for Freightliner LLC's Cleveland, N.C., Truck Manufacturing Plant, which employs 3,600 people in the production of Freightliner-brand heavy-duty trucks. In this capacity he has also been responsible for the production of chassis for the American LaFrance product line. He first joined the Freightliner LLC organization in 1999 extending a distinguished career in the commercial vehicle industry.
"John Stevenson's extensive manufacturing experience and focus on holistic quality processes will be a great benefit to American LaFrance," said Juergen Kritschgau, Chief Financial Officer for Freightliner LLC and Vice Chairman of the American LaFrance Board of Directors. "Under John's stewardship, American LaFrance will remain committed to designing, building and delivering innovative products which meet the highest quality standards in order to help our customers perform their all-important jobs."
Kritschgau noted that American LaFrance continues to make tremendous progress in "Operation Eagle." Under this major corporate initiative, the company is reducing order turnaround times and increasing efficiency, while continuing as a quality product innovator in the fire and emergency equipment business.
John Stevenson succeeds Marc Gustafson, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.
Freightliner LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Freightliner produces and markets Class 3-8 vehicles under the Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, American LaFrance and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Freightliner is a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, the world's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer.
On the Internet:
- Visit the Freightliner LLC Web Site at http://www.freightliner.com for additional Freightliner LLC news.
- Visit the American LaFrance Web Site at http://www.americanlafrance.com for additional American LaFrance news.
