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The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Harley Davidson Gets New Leadership

By Paul Crowe

Keith E. WandellWith Jim Ziemer retiring and the motorcycle business going through some rough spots, Harley Davidson has made a few changes at the top.

Keith E. Wandell is the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Harley Davidson, Inc.

Matthew S. Levatich becomes President and Chief Operating Officer of Harley Davidson Motor Company, moving over from his current position as President and Managing Director of MV Agusta.

James A. McCaslin moves to Executive Vice President for Corporate Product Planning

Enrico D’Onofrio becomes Managing Director, MV Agusta

Making necessary adjustments in any large established company can be a lot more challenging than quickly adapting a smaller company to a changing economy and I can appreciate what these guys are up against. There are always outside observers who will second guess every move they make but it helps no one if they do poorly and helps everyone if they succeed. I’m pulling strongly for their success and I hope you are, too.

Press release below:
Harley-Davidson, Inc. Names Keith E. Wandell President and CEO

MILWAUKEE — Harley-Davidson Inc. has named Keith E. Wandell President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding James L. Ziemer, who is retiring. Wandell, 59, currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls, Inc., a $38 billion global company. Wandell, a 21-year Johnson Controls veteran, starts his new duties at Harley-Davidson May 1.

“Keith Wandell is a seasoned global business leader who brings tremendous energy, passion, and organizational and talent development capability to his job as Harley-Davidson’s new chief executive,” said Harley-Davidson, Inc. Board Member Barry K. Allen, who serves as the Board’s Presiding Director. “His vision and values make him a great fit, and he is absolutely the right person to now lead Harley-Davidson on its exciting journey.”

Regarding his appointment, Wandell commented: “Harley-Davidson has a remarkable record of success and limitless possibilities. I am honored and thrilled to join the Harley-Davidson family and to have this opportunity to help it fulfill dreams, create innovative market-leading products, and expand its opportunities worldwide.”

The Company also announced the following organizational leadership changes which, according to Allen, will also serve as a catalyst to drive Harley-Davidson’s strategies for growth, operational excellence and leadership development going forward:

* Matthew S. Levatich becomes President and Chief Operating Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Levatich, 44, is currently President and Managing Director of MV Agusta, the Italian motorcycle maker that Harley-Davidson, Inc. acquired last August. While at MV, Levatich spearheaded the restarting of MV’s operations. In his 15 years at Harley-Davidson, Levatich has held positions of increasing responsibility in the U.S. and Europe, including Vice President and General Manager of the Company’s Parts and Accessories business, and Vice President of Materials Management.

* James A. McCaslin moves to Executive Vice President for Corporate Product Planning, reporting to the CEO. In this newly created position, McCaslin has broad oversight of motorcycle product planning and development processes across Harley-Davidson, Inc. McCaslin, 60, has served as President of the Motor Company for the past eight years.

* Enrico D’Onofrio, 51, assumes the post of Managing Director, MV Agusta. D’Onofrio joined MV Agusta as Corporate General Director earlier in 2009, overseeing all administrative functions including finance and human resources. Previously he held senior management positions at motorcycle maker Ducati, including CFO, and at Proctor & Gamble in Europe.

All three appointments are also effective May 1.

“The appointment of Matt Levatich to the senior leadership position at Harley-Davidson Motor Company recognizes his demonstrated abilities at relationship management and as a strategic thinker and problem solver on the operations side of the business. He will be a strong leader in his expanded role,” said Allen. “Matt’s predecessor, Jim McCaslin, has done an outstanding job of leading the Motor Company’s operations. His unique talents, passion for products and operational excellence, and market knowledge will now be a great asset to drive the organization forward in the critical area of product planning and development. And we also look forward to growth for MV Agusta, under Enrico’s leadership.”

“Harley-Davidson has a uniquely powerful brand, strong market leadership, and a richness of talented leaders and employees who know this business intimately. Keith’s arrival and these other leadership changes make a powerful combination that will advance the great work going on all across the organization to attract new riders, grow our core rider base and expand internationally,” Allen said.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I also want to thank Jim Ziemer for his 40 years of service to Harley-Davidson and wish him well on his upcoming retirement. All of us who have worked with Jim throughout the years have benefited from his leadership, his selfless commitment to the Company, and his contributions to making the brand one of the most admired and successful brands in the world,” said Allen.

Posted on April 7, 2009 Filed Under: Motorcycle Business

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Comments

  1. ep says

    April 7, 2009 at 11:53 am

    Here’s to hoping HD becomes a little more MV.

  2. Dorzok says

    April 7, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    why? why hope HD becomes something they are not? It’s an American icon that many strive to compete with and copy. Much like America itself.
    Here’s to MV becoming a little more Harley, cheers.

  3. Tin Man 2 says

    April 7, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    Goodbye Mr Zimmer, Thanks for 40 yrs of passionate leadership. I hope the new CEO is a rider with passion for the product, not just a bean counter. Its been proven time and again that one man can make a difference, Zimmer at HD, Lutz at Chrysler/GM and Tambo at MV are prime examples of product based leaders. Lets hope for success in broadening the market without throwing out the baby with the bath water.

  4. Swagger says

    April 7, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    Let’s hope some new creative thinking will help this aging, clunky but somewhat charming dinosaur make a step forward. At present, calling ‘The Company’ an American Iconis much like say the corner of Hollywood and Vine is a meaningful cross section of American……all about costume and appearance.

    I dearly hope HD can become a real leader in the industry again and not just a merchandiser. I think it’s pretty well proven at this point that that kind of business model doesn’t work any longer. I dream of the day that an HD bike will hang with ANY foreign bike. At present it’s just not possible.

    Best of luck HD, I think we’re all pulling for you!
    Swagger

  5. Swagger says

    April 7, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    To clarify before the torches and pitchforks come out (they will but this stall tactic will allow me to don my flame proof undies in time):

    *”I dream of the day that an HD bike will hang with ANY foreign bike.”*
    …..of at least half it’s displacement……..
    *”At present it’s just not possible.”*

  6. Schneegz says

    April 7, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    Harley is in some trouble right now, mostly due to its financial division handing out loans to people who clearly couldn’t afford them. Hopefully the new leadership will run the company more intelligently and develop some innovative products the likes of which we’ve yet to see.

  7. ep says

    April 7, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    @Dorzok

    I know what you mean. I’ve ridden Harley’s since I was a kid, and I don’t think dropping a liquid cooled inline 4 into a softail is the solution. But I would like to see more variety in their lineup. Some sporty standards, sports tourers, pure sportbikes. They are missing out on a huge potential market, and their “Screw it, let’s ride” attitude is why they’re in the place they are right now. It’s high time for something new.

  8. Clive M.-Sanders says

    April 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    save for the sportster, and unfortunate v-rod i cant pick harleys apart. but i doubt anything will change

  9. Mark X says

    April 7, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Dear Mr. Wandell, I have seen many older long time Harley-Davidson riders leave the Harley-Davidson tent in recent times, due to the fact that they no longer want to ride heavy machines, and H-D offered nothing that suited them. These are folks that can afford anything that tickles their fancy. Money is not an issue.They feel that H-D has let them down. More lipstick on the pig is not the way to sustanable growth. More chrome and fancier paint will not carry the day. It is time for a generation of modern, lightweight, and comfortable machines to take the Motor Company into the future. Best of luck. RideSafe, Mark Shapiro. ’91 FLTCU. (The nicest one you ever saw).

  10. todd says

    April 7, 2009 at 3:10 pm

    I imagine there’s an enormous amount of responsibility on those positions. All eyes are on them to somehow turn a whole company around, no small task. I too would care to see some diversification in their lineup, maybe something that appeals to more than just one type of person. Perhaps that’s what these guys will be doing.

    -todd

  11. Doug says

    April 7, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    I like most Harleys out there, and wish them all the success in the future. Sure, I hope that they develop new bikes too, but I also like the classic cruiser they’re famous for the world over. If you’re not interested in a cruiser then please quit with the insipid whining about them. There’s no shortage of the others. Other manufacturers have constantly changed they’re product line for any number of reasons, and not always for the better. Creating a readily disposable product does keep the customer buying, and the landfill sites active. My local Honda shop won’t touch any bikes over ten years old. They’ll sell you another in a heartbeat. Not every rider is looking for the disposable.

  12. RandyXB9R says

    April 8, 2009 at 10:57 am

    This man appears to know nothing about motorcycles. He’s not a passionate leader. He’s bailed from industries that had troubles. Let’s hope that HD keeps people in the higher eschelons that know their business and have passion like the old administration did.

    They’re paying him $39,000 a day to know what he’s doing and he’s toying with the idea of dirt bikes and the future of a great motorcycle marque.

    Harley got to where they are by hiring hard-working, intelligent, passionate people who were able to recognize what the real, loyal buyers of their product wanted. They then refined those machines to the point of perfection while losing none of it’s soul. They didn’t chase their tails on other fads because they believed that their machine was an honest representation of what a motorcycle should be. You can get on one of these bikes and really enjoy your ride. You can look at it at the end of a long day in the saddle and enjoy what you’re seeing.

    This world would be a lesser place without Harley. Let’s hope this man’s words and actions are way off from his ability to keep this company profitable.

  13. B*A*M*F says

    April 8, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Randy, some of those statements weren’t true in the AMF years. Harley has chased a number of fads and dead ends. The had a scooter at one point. They bought Aermacchi and built all sorts of great little bikes that have no relavance to the Motor Company’s current line.

    I’m not anti-Harley, just indifferent. I am only mildly interested in one, maybe two, of their offerings. And even those would not keep me from cross shopping Triumphs and the air cooled Ducatis. Buells, on the other hand, are really interesting to me. I guess I just don’t get the hefty cruiser bike thing.

  14. frozenprairie says

    April 8, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    I often hear or read that Harley riders are all about “the biker image”. Well, some may be, but isn’t that also true of many sport bike riders – dressed like Ben Spies but never setting a wheel on a race track?

  15. ace says

    April 8, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    “You can get on one of these bikes and really enjoy your ride.”

    Not if it’s a Nightster you can’t. Good God that’s an awful machine – terrible leg position and the suspension is a cruel joke. Harley’s not currently selling superior motorcycles, it’s selling an image to folks who still sadly think riding a Hog gives them some sort of badass street cred.

  16. nobody says

    April 8, 2009 at 9:51 pm

    What bikes have “street cred”?

    Where does “street cred” come from?

    What is “street cred” anyway?

    Who is fit or unfit to discern “street cred”?

  17. steve says

    April 12, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    I hope they can take us into a new world but still are able to keep the best of the old. At 62 and having 4 bikes, 3 S&S powered and 1vintage Triumph), I don’t ever plan on buying a new bike again (just rebuild what I have) but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see new product for others. In this day it can’t be that hard to build a competitive machine to put in your show room (just expensive to create). We want to see new product and I hope the MV conection comes full circle but we also want to see the present continue on.

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