LWG names chief operating officer for all aftermarket automotive divisions
Wessels comes to LWG from nine years at Driver’s Edge Auto Repair, and most recently 13 years at Bridgestone Americas, where he led at any one time up to 240 Firestone locations Nationally with over 2,000 team members. Wessels has tremendous multi-unit experience across two decades in automotive aftermarket. Wessels has delivered extraordinary results while creating world class leadership cultures within his team with hands-on training processes, creations of defined careers paths for his team members, all while achieving large growth and repeatable multi-unit sales records.
“We have spent tremendous resources over the last nine months setting up our operating teams’ structure in a way that we believe to be best in class streamlined with the mindset and ability to achieve our growth expectations and culture for our team members growth. During the process we set a lofty goal of identifying a leader that we believed had the skillset of large multi-unit automotive retail experience that is highly driven with a mindset of in-field presence, with a hunger and passion to win and the skillset that could achieve our expected growth numbers all while being able to deliver to their teams personal growth. We believe we have found that in Derek and could not be prouder to have him leading all aftermarket automotive divisions and joining LWG. We look forward to welcoming Derek and his family to Colorado and LWG from Texas,” said CEO Judd Kyle Shader.
Wessels is in the process of relocating his family to Colorado from Texas and has assumed all job responsibilities
effective immediately with Alan Mahrt, COO ASE Division, Tim Moran Vice President of LW Midas Division, and
James Gould Vice President of the Big O Division reporting to him.
“I am very excited to be joining the LWG team and family. It's an honor to lead this organization from an operations perspective as our core values and vision for the future fully align. Teammate development, outstanding customer service, high paced nationwide growth and long-term thinking are a few key items that stand out. I'm extremely motivated to lead our teammates who have high expectations and a passion to take LWG to the next level. My family and I are excited to get going, and I look forward to building meaningful relationships with all teammates throughout the organization," Wessels said.
“We are excited to welcome Derek to the LWG executive team. LWG has grown to over 100 locations nationwide, and Derek’s arrival highlights our development and maturation under the leadership of our CEO, Judd Kyle Shader. Derek’s track record as a leader and his deep roots in our industry make him a natural fit for our organization given our focus on combining institutionalized operational excellence with entrepreneurial innovation. With CEO Judd, CFO Peter Derschang, CPA, and now COO, Derek Wessels in place, our executive team is well positioned to drive our strategy and upcoming expansions to be announced later this year, and the continued strategic expansion of our locations nationwide. As we scale our business we remain strongly committed to providing excellent service to the communities in which we operate while providing a dynamic work environment with upward mobility for our amazing team of now over 900 members. We are proud of our position with the addition of Derek as both a best-in-class operator and a strong ambassador for our brands,” said Josh Weinreich, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
