The board of directors of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) announced June 25 the appointment of Julie A. Fream to president and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1, at which time she will also join the board. Effective on the same date, current President and CEO Cornelius (Neil) De Koker will be named president emeritus.
“I am very proud to be chosen to lead OESA,” said Fream. “OESA provides services of critical importance to suppliers. The OESA staff is dedicated to providing outstanding support to its members and that tradition will continue. I am looking forward to working with our members and staff to continue to grow the quality and value of our services to meet the needs for the future of this global industry.”
“Today, OESA represents 450 member companies who provide over 70 percent of the products used to build new vehicles in North America. I feel now is the right time to turn over the leadership of the association to Julie Fream,” said De Koker, who served as OESA’s founding president and CEO. “Julie brings a proven track record of building strong, long-lasting relationships and a collaborative nature in working with customers and with staff. I foresee continued growth in member services for many years to come.”
“Thanks to Neil’s leadership, OESA has truly become an outstanding asset to the industry and its members,” said Bob McKenna, president and CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “Julie Fream is a proven leader. We are confident that, under Julie’s leadership, OESA will continue to be an effective voice for the OE supplier industry,” stated McKenna.
Fream has served in a number of positions in her 30 years in the automotive industry including positions in manufacturing, sales and marketing at General Motors Corp.; marketing and product planning at Ford Motor Co.; planning, sales and marketing and business development at TRW; and corporate strategy, global communications, sales and marketing at Visteon where she became a corporate officer in 2004.
Fream holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. She also serves as a trustee on the boards of Oakwood Health Inc. and the Michigan Technological University.
The search to transition OESA’s executive position was successfully conducted by Egon Zehnder, an executive search firm with more than 420 consultants and 66 offices in 40 countries across all continents.
Formed in August 1998, OESA provides a forum for automotive suppliers by addressing issues of common concern through peer group councils, serving as a reliable source of information and analysis, providing an industry voice on issues of interest and serving as a positive change agent to the automotive industry. OESA is an affiliate of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association. For more information, visit www.oesa.org.
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