Nikola
Schmitt will oversee the company’s sales, commercial operations, dealerships, service, customer success, and marketing functions.

Transportation Transitions: New leadership appointments

Aug. 30, 2024
Averitt, Dana, Element Fleet Management, Nikola, and AFS Logistics name new leadership.

Averitt promotes Brown to director of marketing and communications 

Averitt recently promoted Brad Brown to director of marketing and communications.  

Before the promotion, Brown was leading a team of associates responsible for internal communications, customer marketing, branding and engagement, recruitment marketing, training, social media, and digital media for Averitt. He will now also take a lead role in the company’s associate recruiting efforts. 

Brown has spent his entire 25-year Averitt career with the company’s marketing and communications team. 

"We’re thrilled to have Brad take on this expanded role," Kent Williams, EVP of sales and marketing at Averitt, said. "Brad’s dedication and vision have been instrumental in reinforcing our culture and beliefs. We’re confident that under his leadership, our marketing and communications team will continue to excel."

Dana appoints Craig Price to lead off-highway business

Dana Incorporated recently appointed Craig Price as SVP and president of Dana's Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems. Price succeeds Jeroen Decleer, who passed away following a brief illness. 

Price has been with the company for more than 14 years. Most recently as SVP of purchasing and supplier development, he led all global purchasing activities for the company.  

"Craig is a results-driven, highly respected leader with a deep understanding of the mobility business, and specifically the off-highway business," James Kamsickas, Dana chairman and CEO, said. "He brings proven global expertise to this position and will play an important role in continuing the great work our off-highway team is doing to profitably grow the business by leveraging our capabilities across the organization and delivering on our commitments to customers and shareholders."

Element announces leadership transitions: Jim Halliday appointed to vice chair, Ian Oncea promoted to COO

Element Fleet Management recently announced two leadership transitions within its executive team. 

After serving as COO, Jim Halliday will take on a new role as vice chair. With more than 20 years of service at Element, including his role as COO since 2018, Halliday has been pivotal in steering the company toward success. 

“We are grateful to have Jim’s invaluable expertise and experience as we continue to grow our business and lead our industry for the future,” Laura Dottori-Attanasio, CEO at Element, said.

In his role, Halliday will focus on strengthening key relationships with clients and partners while providing strategic guidance to enhance the company’s performance.

With this change, Ian Oncea is promoted to COO. 

“We are excited to have Ian Oncea stepping into the COO role. Under Ian's leadership, we will not only enhance our operational efficiency but also drive our strategic goals and continue to deliver exceptional value to our clients. His leadership and vision will undoubtedly drive Element forward,” said Dottori-Attanasio.

See also: Nikola CEO: “We're all in, and there's no turning back.”

Tom Schmitt named chief commercial officer of Nikola

Nikola Corporation has appointed Tom Schmitt as chief commercial officer.

As CCO, Schmitt will align Nikola’s commercial efforts to scale the company’s business. He will oversee the company’s sales, commercial operations, dealerships, service, customer success, and marketing functions.

“Fortifying our commercial team is crucial to our success as we focus on our customers’ experience and expanding the zero-emission Class 8 marketplace,” said President and CEO Stephen Girsky. “Tom brings a solid track record built over the past 35-plus years that will help drive forward Nikola’s strategic and operational goals, inside and out.”

Schmitt brings to Nikola decades of transportation leadership, having served as CEO of Forward Air, CCO of Schenker, CEO of Purolator and FedEx Supply Chain, and is a longtime board member for various well-known entities. 

“I’ve been following Nikola for years, and it’s an honor to join this mission-driven organization with the sole goal of decarbonizing the trucking industry,” Schmitt said. “I look forward to working with the passionate Nikola team in bringing that goal to fruition.”

AFS Logistics appoints Andy Dyer as new CEO

AFS Logistics recently announced Andy Dyer as its new CEO. Dyer has more than a quarter of a century of supply chain and transportation experience. Before joining AFS in 2020, he served as president at New Age Logistics, where he led a year-over-year growth in excess of 20%.

“We have focused on building the AFS brand and our managed transportation services over the last few years, and the visibility and traction we’ve gained has been invaluable,” Brian J. Barker, founder and chairman of AFS, said. “Andy has been an integral part of our ascent during his tenure here. I’m confident that his extensive experience in the industry will help us take AFS to the next level.”

In the four years before being appointed CEO, Dyer applied that experience as president of transportation management at AFS. His success in this role was integral to the company’s recent recognition by Logistics Management as a winner of the publication’s prestigious 2024 Quest for Quality Award. 

“Data will only get you so far in this business. It takes dedicated, talented people to interpret that data,” Dyer said. “Our team is the reason our customers consider AFS a trusted transportation adviser. I’ve seen, firsthand, what this team can do, and I look forward to working with them to chart a path to even greater success and growth for AFS as we move forward.”

About the Author

Jenna Hume | Digital Editor

Digital Editor Jenna Hume joined FleetOwner in November of 2o23 and previously worked as a writer in the gaming industry. She has a bachelor of fine arts degree in creative writing from Truman State University and a master of fine arts degree in writing from Lindenwood University. She is currently based in Missouri. 

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

The Ultimate Trailer Tracking Technology Checklist for Enterprise Fleets

We understand the challenges you face in consolidating inventory, reducing theft, and tracking revenue. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate checklist to help you evaluate your...

Discover 4 Easy Ways to Level-Up Efficiency with Trailer Telematics

In today's competitive landscape, gaining an edge is vital. That's why top fleets are utilizing trailer telematics to boost efficiency and we've captured their secrets. Introducing...

The Future of Mirrors is Closer Than it Appears

Why Mirror Camera Systems are the next step for fleet safety and exoneration While many commercial trucking cameras are similarly marketed, they are not all created equally. The...

The 20:1 Solution: Unlocking the ROI of a Modern Asset Maintenance Solution

Discover how modern fleet maintenance software can drive step-change improvements in shop efficiency, cost control and vehicle productivity, along with how to calculate the ROI...