Pennzoil-Quaker State Company Announces Management Appointments in Consumer Products and Lubricants
31 July 2000
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company Announces Management Appointments in Consumer Products and Lubricants
HOUSTON - Pennzoil-Quaker State Company today announced three management
appointments for its consumer products and lubricants organizations.
R. Richard (Rick) Wrabel, president of its Axius(R) business unit in
Moorpark, California, has been appointed president of consumer products. He
will report directly to James J. Postl, Pennzoil-Quaker State Company
president and chief executive officer.
Ira Kisver, senior vice president of field sales and operations for the
domestic lubricants division, has been appointed president of its Axius(R)
business unit. Kisver replaces and will report directly to Wrabel.
Frank Finn, vice president of sales operations, has been appointed vice
president of lubricants direct and distributor sales. He will report to Clyde
Beahm, executive vice president of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company.
As president of consumer products, Wrabel will have responsibility for
building the company's competitive position, ensuring maximum growth and
profitability through category expansion, new product development and improved
efficiency. Pennzoil-Quaker State Company's four consumer product business
units -- Axius, Blue Coral/Slick 50, MEDO and the Automotive Chemicals
Department -- will report directly to Wrabel.
"We see the consumer products sector as a major growth engine for
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company and we were gratified to find the ideal
candidate within our own organization," said Postl. "Rick has played an
integral role in the growth of Axius over the past year, including the
successful acquisition and integration of Sagaz Consumer Products into the
Axius organization. I'm very confident in Rick's ability to lead the effort
to grow our consumer products business."
Prior to joining Pennzoil-Quaker State Company in June 1999, Wrabel served
as president of Oral-B Laboratories North America. During his six-year career
at Oral B, he held positions of increasing responsibility and was instrumental
in increasing North American sales from $117 million in 1993 to more than
$300 million in 1997. Wrabel also served for a time as general manager of
Oral B's operations in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, where he
created an integrated marketing plan that significantly boosted the brand's
regional market share. Prior to Oral B, Wrabel held senior sales management
positions with the A. H. Robins Company division of American Home Products.
He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Quinnipiac College.
As president of Axius, Kisver will have responsibility for continuing to
grow profitability and market share in the automotive accessories category.
Axius is one of the fastest-growing companies in the field of automobile
accessories, which includes sun protection, window tint film, steering wheel
covers, auto organizers and winter windshield covers. The Axius brand has an
extensive product portfolio, with over 200 innovative auto accessories in
these categories. Through creative marketing, product innovation and category
management Axius has established a commanding 95 percent market share in the
sun protection category it pioneered. In early March 2000, Sagaz Industries,
the leading manufacturer and marketer of automobile seat covers and cushions
in the United States and Canada was acquired and absorbed into Axius.
"Ira is a seasoned veteran of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, who has
brought a talent for leadership to many areas of the organization over the
years," said Wrabel. "I look forward to working with him and the other
leaders of our consumer products business unit."
Kisver began his career with Pennzoil Products Company in 1981. He served
in positions of increasing responsibility ranging from director information
systems, director of total quality management, general manager of refined
products marketing, regional vice president of sales, motors oils and
automotive chemicals. As Pennzoil began their conversion to SAP in 1996 they
looked to Kisver to head up the program as SAP project manager. In April
1998, he was named the senior vice president, field sales and operations for
the domestic lubricants division.
Previous to coming to Pennzoil, Kisver held various positions with
Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, Associates Corporation of North America,
and Anheuser Busch Companies, Incorporated. He received his Bachelor of
Science degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA
from Lehigh University.
As vice president of lubricants sales, Finn will be responsible for
leading and directing the activities of the company's direct and distributor
sales organization to achieve the company's strategic vision.
"Frank has extensive experience in key areas such as sales administration,
marketing and franchise relations that are a great asset to our organization,"
said Beahm. "In the short time that he's been with us, he has shown
remarkable leadership ability and a keen understanding for the day-to-day
marketing and sales challenges that face our business."
Finn joined Pennzoil-Quaker State Company in May 2000. Prior to joining
the company, he spent 13 years with PepsiCo, most recently as vice president
and general manager of operations in the Czech and Slovak Republics, where he
had responsibility for all areas of operations, marketing and sales for the
company. He began his career with PepsiCo in 1987 as manager of advertising
and marketing. He holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from Michigan
State and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer
products company, marketing over 1,300 products with 20 leading brands in more
than 50 countries. The company markets Pennzoil(R) and Quaker State(R) brand
motor oils, the number one and number two selling motor oils in the United
States. Jiffy Lube, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennzoil-Quaker State
Company, is the world's largest fast lube operator and franchiser.
