CEO

Global Automotive Connector Business Leader

Our client is a global, family-owned automotive supplier with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Based in Michigan, this unique leadership role combines responsibility for leading their site with global oversight of program and portfolio management for the connector business. Reporting directly to the business CEO, the successful candidate will serve as a key member of the global leadership team, driving operational excellence locally while establishing and advancing global program and portfolio management standards across the organization.

This position is ideal for a collaborative automotive leader with a strong foundation in program, portfolio, platform, or product management who thrives in a global matrix environment. The role offers an opportunity to broaden leadership responsibilities into general management while remaining closely connected to the strategic direction and execution of global programs.

Responsibilities:

• Define, develop, and govern global methods, processes, standards, and ways of working for program and portfolio management.
• Ensure consistent program and portfolio management practices across business units and regions, including collaboration with international teams.
• Act as a functional leader for program and portfolio management across a global connector business.
• Lead the Rochester Hills location, which includes approximately 200 employees across manufacturing, sales, R&D, engineering, and related functions.
• Serve as the local disciplinary leader for the Rochester Hills organization while operating within a global business model.
• Build trust with the local leadership team and support the continued development of the Rochester Hills organization.
• Support organizational development initiatives in North America, including future regional setup and role distribution topics as the business evolves.
• Collaborate closely with global business unit leaders rather than directly managing individual projects owned within the business units.
• Build strong relationships across the global organization to understand both formal structures and informal ways of working.

Qualifications:

• Automotive supplier experience is required.
• Experience working with the Detroit 3 is required.
• Strong background in program management, portfolio management, platform leadership, product line leadership, or closely related automotive leadership roles.
• Engineering foundation preferred; an MBA or other business qualification is helpful but not required.
• Experience in larger automotive supplier environments, ideally at the director or senior director level or with comparable scope.
• Ability to operate effectively in a global matrix organization where relationships, influence, collaboration, and role-based accountability are critical.
• Comfort working with manufacturing, engineering, sales, R&D, and cross-functional teams.
• Intercultural awareness and the ability to work effectively with colleagues across multiple international regions and cultures.
• Ability to relate to a hands-on Detroit-area automotive supplier environment while engaging confidently with global executive stakeholders.