Cloyes Gear & Products, Inc., affiliated with MidOcean Partners, has appointed Bob Riedford as Chief Operating Officer. He brings a wealth of experience managing global automotive operations with particular emphasis in lean production techniques. Based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and founded in 1921, Cloyes is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of timing drive systems and components for replacement applications in the automotive aftermarket and high-performance racing segments.

Riedford brings 30+ years of experience most recently as Interim CEO of Tread Corporation and previously the President of the Powertrain & Chassis BU of Kongsberg Automotive. In these roles he was a member of the Management Board and a key member of the executive team responsible for strategic operational decisions for the company. Prior to Kongsberg Automotive, Riedford founded Riedford Management Inc., consulting multi-national clients in the USA, Asia and Europe.

“We are pleased to welcome Bob to the Cloyes team. As a proven leader with a remarkable track record of maximizing operational efficiency and driving organic and inorganic sales growth, he brings invaluable expertise to our organization,” said John Hanighen, President and CEO of Cloyes. “Moreover, Bob’s extensive experience internationally positions us to expand across the globe. His depth of management and leadership knowledge aligns perfectly with our growth strategy, allowing us to capitalize aggressively on Cloyes’ premium leadership position within the automotive aftermarket. Together, we are poised to make significant strides and achieve new heights of success.”

Mr. Riedford holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Evansville.

About Cloyes
Cloyes, based in Fort Smith, AR, is the North American leader and global designer, developer, manufacturer and distributor of timing drive systems and components for the automotive aftermarket. Its products are mission critical components for engine performance and function used in high-performance and replacement applications. Cloyes serves a broad customer base, including wholesale distributors, national and local retailers, re-packagers, and production engine builders, and sells its products under the Cloyes® brand throughout North America and Dynagear® in Mexico. To learn more, visit www.cloyes.com.

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