QUICKSTEP APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DAVID MARINO
The Board of Quickstep Holdings Limited (ASX:QHL) (Quickstep), a manufacturer of high-grade carbon-fibre components for the aerospace and automotive industries, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr David Marino as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. Mr Marino will commence his official duties in the role from mid February 2015, and will be appointed as a director at the first Board meeting after his commencement.
Mr Marino is currently Chief Operating Officer of Futuris Automotive Group, having been appointed to that role in June 2013 following ten years in senior management and executive roles throughout the Group. Futuris Automotive designs and manufactures automotive interior solutions for major original equipment manufacturers globally including Ford, General Motors and Tesla. David began his career as an engineer, first with Ford Motor Company, then moving to Lear Corporation, and finally to Air International, where he began moving into management roles, gradually being promoted to General Manager of the Seating Division before Air International Thermal was divested and Futuris Interiors commenced its global expansion.
As Chief Operating Officer of Futuris, Mr Marino leads a team of 1,600 people, with direct reports including heads of various international business units and senior operational executives, and is responsible for businesses turning over more than $400 million annually across Australia, Thailand and the US. He has over 20 years of commercial experience in the Automotive industry, having spent many years developing effective customer and partner relationships, leading customer negotiations, and executing and managing manufacturing projects to achieve growth and profitability targets. He has experience as a director on the boards of numerous Futuris subsidiary companies, and as a current member of the Futuris Executive team works closely with the CEO and CFO to develop and deliver business strategy for the Futuris Group.
Mr Tony Quick, currently Executive Chairman of Quickstep, said “Quickstep has experienced significant growth in its operations over the past year, tripling sales in FY2014 from FY2013. In FY2015 Quickstep expects further significant growth, and is also seeking to establish a position in the automotive market. David’s experience in leading and managing high-growth businesses, and in particular his extensive experience in developing manufacturing businesses both locally and overseas in the Automotive industry, are an ideal fit for Quickstep as we focus on delivering the expected growth over the next few years. Futuris Automotive is known in the industry for having developed a culture that values quality, teamwork, and building business partnerships, and we look forward to David reinforcing similar values across the Quickstep businesses.”
Mr Philippe Odouard will continue in his current role as Executive director, focussed on developing the market for the Quickstep process with particular emphasis on Defence and Aerospace markets. Mr Odouard will report to Mr Marino.
It is envisaged that there will be a brief handover period between Mr Quick and Mr Marino, after which Mr Quick will relinquish all executive responsibilities and resume his role as Non-Executive Chairman of Quickstep.
Mr Marino said “I am delighted to take over the leadership of Quickstep at this exciting point in its growth.”
