Management Team
Fred Drasner
Director, Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Company
Mr. Drasner is also Chairman of Three Seasons Capital, a venture capital firm. He was co-owner and Vice Chairman of The Washington Redskins football team from 1999 to 2004, and co-owner, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Publisher of the New York Daily News from 1993 to 2004. He has also served as CEO and/or Co-Chairman of U. S. News & World Report, Chairman and CEO of Applied Graphics Technologies (NASDAQ) and Chairman of Applied Printing Technologies. Mr. Drasner was one of the initial investors in Snyder Communications (NYSE) and a board member until its sale to Havas in 1999. In addition, Mr. Drasner was one of the founders of Fast Company Magazine, a member of the Board of Directors of Ventiv Health, Inc. (now inVentiv Health Inc., NASDAQ); Applied Graphics Technologies (NASDAQ); Snyder Communications (NYSE) and the Washington Redskins. He served as a Director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) from 1996 to 2003 and was a Director of the New York City Opera from 1996 to 2003 and the New York MS Society from 1993 to 2003.
Dave Schembri
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Schembri joins VPG with over 30 years of automotive experience. Most recently, he was the President of Penske Automotive Group’s smart USA subsidiary. Mr. Schembri was instrumental in the US launch of the smart brand and the smart for two. Prior to joining Penske in 2006, Mr. Schembri held various senior executive positions at Mercedes-Benz USA including Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Sales. From 1979 through 1993, Mr. Schembri held various management positions at Volkswagen of America in Finance, Marketing, and Sales. He began his career at American Motors Corporation in 1975.
Matt DeMars
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Before joining VPG in February 2009, Mr. DeMars was Chief Operating Officer and Business Unit President of Plastech Engineered Products, responsible for all business aspects of 26 manufacturing sites for this plastic injection molding automotive interior/exterior supplier. From 1978 to 2005, he held various positions of increasing responsibility at Ford Motor Company including Vice President of Vehicle Operations (2003-2005) that led full operational activities for 12 North American vehicle assembly plants and 7 stamping plants; Executive Director of Truck Operations (2000 – 2003) during which time he was responsible for the successful launch of F-series pickup truck within key targeted timing and costs parameters; Chief Program Engineer (1998 – 2000) responsible for product development for the 2000 model year F-series/ Expedition/ Navigator and new Supercrew Cab; Chief Body Engineer (1994 – 1998) responsible for product development, design and testing for all North American Truck Body Engineering including standardization of test processes, sign-off and certification of Body Engineering standards; and Body Engineer (1978 – 1994) with product engineering responsibility for design and development of new model programs including system level design for body components, hood, fender and system level design.
Joseph D. Vecchiolla
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining VPG in July 2007, Mr. Vecchiolla served as a Principal and Managing Director of The Recovery Group, an international financial advisory consultancy. During this period, he simultaneously served as a Managing Director of Three Seasons Capital, LLC. From May 2000 through December 2005, he served in various senior positions including President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Seven Worldwide, previously known as Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ). Prior to this, Mr. Vecchiolla served as Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Finance at Favorite Brands International, which was acquired by Nabisco, President of Old Greenwich Capital Corporation and various roles with Bird Corporation (NASDAQ) beginning as Senior Vice President and CFO, then President and COO and finally Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Marc D. Klein
Founder, Executive Vice President of Business Development
Mr. Klein is Co-Founder of The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) and serves as Executive Vice President of Business Development. From January 2003 to June 2005, Mr. Klein served as President and CEO of the London Fleet Companies that acquired the North American distribution, sales, and advertising rights for the London Taxi (left-hand drive version). Mr. Klein also served as Director of Operations and General Counsel of Transit Funding Group LLC, a specialty finance company in Chicago. From January 1999 through December 2002, Mr. Klein was a founding partner in Lennon & Klein, P.C., a commercial business law firm in New York City, representing large corporations including HSBC Bank (USA). From May 1991 through December 1998, he was an attorney at Kreindler & Relkin, P.C. in New York representing institutional banks and finance companies, and in 1998 he served as Junior Managing Partner. Mr. Klein is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut.
Peter Cotter
Executive Vice President, Managing Director World Wide Sales
Mr. Cotter recently joined VPG from Motor Coach Industries, a leading domestic motor coach builder where he served
as Senior Vice President and General Manager. Prior to joining Motor Coach in 2001, Mr. Cotter held a number of senior management positions including President, Vice President, General Manager, and Vice President – Finance in several large companies operating in various industries.
