Richard E Dauch

AAM was co-founded by automotive industry veteran Richard E. Dauch on March 1, 1994. Under Dauch’s bold and steady leadership, AAM has grown from five former GM plants located throughout the Midwestern United States to a multi-billion dollar global company. After graduating from Purdue University in 1964 with his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management, Dauch began his career at General Motors’ Chevrolet Flint Assembly plant. He was promoted to plant manager of Livonia, Mich.-based Chevrolet & Spring Bumper in 1973, making him the youngest plant manager in GM’s history at the time. Richard E. Dauch was Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer of AAM, and is also Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board. He was CEO and a member of the Board since AAM began operations in March 1994. In October 1997, he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was also President of AAM from March 1994 through December 2000. Prior to March 1994, he spent 12 years at Chrysler Corporation, where he established the just-in-time materials management system and the three-shift manufacturing vehicle assembly process. He is a retired officer from the Chrysler Corporation. Mr. Dauch's last position at Chrysler, in 1991, was EVP of Worldwide Manufacturing. Mr. Dauch also served as Group Vice President of Volkswagen of America, where he established the manufacturing facilities and organization for the successful launch of the first major automotive transplant in the United States. Mr. Dauch also served on the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers (N.A.M.), where he previously served as Chairman.