Management
The top five executives have more than 100 years of combined industry/company experience. These leaders have demonstrated successful management performance through changing environments and volatile economic cycles as well as providing leadership focused on delivering shareholders value.
For a brief biography of these individuals, select a name from the following list:
Robert E. Rossiter
Robert E. Rossiter is chairman and chief executive officer of Lear Corporation. Rossiter is responsible for the strategic direction and operational leadership of the corporation. He has served on the board of directors since 1988 and assumed the chairman’s role on January 1, 2003.
To support his corporate philosophy of “customer is everything,” Rossiter champions Lear’s Quality First initiative. His objective is to ensure that the company eliminates all forms of waste to continually raise the bar on customer satisfaction levels and grows its position as a world-leading supplier of complete automotive and electronics interior systems.
Prior to his current role, Rossiter was Lear’s president and chief operating officer, a position he had held since 1988. In April 1997, he also assumed the role of president and chief operating officer of Lear’s international operations and was based in Sulzbach, Germany.
His career at Lear and its predecessor companies spans 34 years, with Rossiter holding various management positions of increasing responsibility in sales management as well as operations. Born and raised in Detroit, Rossiter earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University in Midland, Mich.
In addition to his responsibilities at Lear, Rossiter serves on the board of directors for Detroit Renaissance and the advisory board of Focus: HOPE.
James H. Vandenberghe
James H. Vandenberghe is vice chairman of Lear Corporation. He has been affiliated with Lear and its predecessor companies for 32 years and was named vice chairman in November 1998.
A native of Grosse Pointe, Mich., Vandenberghe joined Lear Siegler Inc. in 1973 as a financial analyst and advanced to higher-level positions in financial and general management capacities. In 1988, he became senior vice president - Finance, chief financial officer and secretary of the company. He was named executive vice president - Finance in 1993, and in 1997 was promoted to president and chief operating officer - North American Operations.
Vandenberghe earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., and a master’s degree in business administration from Wayne State University in Detroit.
In addition to his duties at Lear, Vandenberghe sits on the Board of Trustees for the College for Creative Studies and the Board of Visitors for the Wayne State University School of Business.
Douglas G. DelGrosso
Douglas G. DelGrosso is Lear Corporation’s president and chief operating officer – Americas. In his current role, he is responsible for all aspects of Lear’s operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, as well as South and Central America.
DelGrosso began his career with Lear in 1984 as a design engineer and advanced to positions of increasing responsibility. He was promoted to director of Product Engineering in 1991 and in May 1995, was promoted to vice president of Operations for the company’s GM Division. In addition, he has held the title of senior vice president – Operations and president of Lear’s DaimlerChrysler, GM, Interior Systems and Electronics divisions. In August 2001, DelGrosso was named executive vice president – International Operations. One year later, his duties were expanded to president and chief operating officer for all of Lear’s operations in Europe, Asia and Africa. In August 2004, he was named to his current position as president and chief operating officer – Americas.
DelGrosso holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich., and a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
In addition to his duties at Lear, DelGrosso is a member of the board of trustees of Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich.
Donald J. Stebbins
Donald J. Stebbins is Lear Corporation’s president and chief operating officer – Europe, Asia and Africa. In his current role, he is responsible for all of Lear’s operations in Europe, Asia and Africa.
A thirteen-year veteran of Lear Corporation, Stebbins joined the company in 1992 as vice president and treasurer. He has held various financial positions of increasing responsibility throughout the first nine years with the company, including a 1997 promotion to senior vice president and chief financial officer. In August 2001, Stebbins was named executive vice president – North and South America. One year later, he was named president and chief operating officer – Americas and was responsible for all of Lear’s operations in the Americas. In August 2004, he was named to his current position of president and chief operating officer – Europe, Asia and Africa. Prior to joining Lear, he held positions at Bankers Trust Company and Citibank.
Stebbins received a bachelor of science degree in finance from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a master of business administration degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
David C. Wajsgras
David C. Wajsgras is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Lear Corporation. He is responsible for directing the company’s overall financial strategy including financial reporting and controls, planning and analysis, investor relations, tax and treasury activities, as well as business development.
Wajsgras joined Lear in September 1999 as vice president - controller and assumed responsibility for all Lear’s accounting and financial reporting functions. He was promoted to senior vice president and CFO in January 2002. Before joining Lear, he was corporate controller for Engelhard Corporation in Iselin, N.J., and has also held various financial management positions with Honeywell International Inc., in Morristown, N.J.
In addition to his responsibilities at Lear Corporation, Wajsgras is a member of the 3Com board of directors and is chairman of its audit and finance committee.
Wajsgras earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. and a master of business administration degree in finance from the American University in Washington, D.C. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Financial Executives Institute, the Corporate Executive Board and the Manufacturer’s Alliance/MAPI, an education and research organization.