Dana Holding Corp. has announced that industry veteran James E. Sweetnam has been named president and chief executive officer. Sweetnam will also be named to the Dana Board of Directors.
"Dana has an impressive array of global customer relationships, solid product and market diversity, and a wonderful base of talented employees," Sweetnam said. "I look forward to working with the people of Dana to lead the company's growth and resurgence."
Sweetnam replaces John Devine, who will stay on as executive chairman. He has spent the past 11 years as president of the Global Truck Group at Eaton Corp. where he oversaw Eaton's $2.3 billion truck business, after having joined Eaton in 1997 as vp and gm of the company's Heavy-Duty Transmission Division. In 2000, Sweetnam was named vice president, Operations, Heavy-Duty Transmission Clutch and Aftermarket, Truck. From 2001 to 2008, he served as senior vice president and president, Truck Group.
"We are very excited that Jim has decided to join the Dana leadership team," Devine said. "He has a tremendous track record of success internationally. His deep knowledge of our business, especially the commercial vehicle segment, will ensure a brief and smooth transition for him. I look forward to working with Jim to address the challenges and opportunities in our business today."
Sweetnam also spent ten years at Cummins Engine Co., serving in a variety of rolls, including president of Cummins Electronics Co. and group managing director of Holset Engineering Co., Ltd., Cummins' U.K.-based global turbo charger business. He began his career as a civil engineer at Olko Engineering in New York, N.Y.
A West Point graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in applied science and engineering, Sweetnam also holds an MBA from Harvard. He is a board member of The Lubrizol Corporation, a specialty chemical company based in Wickliffe, OH, and on the board of trustees for ideastream, a public service multi-media organization based in Cleveland, Ohio.
