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COMINGS AND GOINGS
NSG Group Appoints New Executive VP
Officials at the Japan-based NSG Group has appointed Keiji Yoshikawa as the company’s representative executive officer, executive vice president of the company, and chief project management officer. In addition, the company has divided its automotive business unit into two strategic business units (SBUs): auto glass replacement (AGR) and original-equipment (OE).

Tony Fradgley will lead the AGR unit as senior corporate officer, and Phil Millichap has been appointed senior corporate officer of the automotive OE unit.

Previously, Yoshikawa served as executive officer and head of the company’s specialty glass division.

Fradgley has been with the company for nearly 14 years and has held a variety of roles in the company’s auto glass replacement business, according to information from his LinkedIn account. Millichap most recently served as senior executive officer, according to a June 2011 financial report issued by the company.

Frye Joins Guardian Auto Glass
Worthington, Ohio-based Guardian Auto Glass LLC hired Nik Frye as vice president of sales and marketing. Frye most recently served as vice president of sales for Chicago-based Glass America.

He has more than 35 years of retail auto glass experience and got his start as an apprentice auto glass technician in his family’s business.

He is a certified continuing education instructor in 19 states and currently serves as chair of the marketing committee for the Auto Glass Safety Council (formerly the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards Council).

“I am very pleased to be joining the Guardian Auto Glass team and excited about the growth opportunities offered by such a quality organization,” adds Frye. “Guardian’s local ownership model attracted my interest … I look forward to the future and working closely with all Guardian Auto Glass employees and owners to grow the company.”

Guardian Auto Glass LLC was founded in September 2010 as a joint venture between Guardian Glass Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Industries Corp., and LRST LLC to manage the Guardian’s retail auto glass business.

Frye says he’ll remain based in New Hampton, N.H.

Staff Promotions at Key Communications
Key Communications Inc. has announced that Sahely Mukerji has taken over Penny Stacey’s position as editor of AGRR™ magazine beginning with this issue (read Mukerji’s column on page 4). Katie Hodge O’Mara, editor of Window Film magazine, will now serve as the editor of AGRR’s daily news service, glassBYTEs.com™. O’Mara has been employed at Key Communications for the past three years.

Stacey, who has served as an editor for AGRR for nine years, has been named editor of USGlass magazine, effective with the March 2012 issue.

“I am very excited to serve as the daily editor of glassBYTEs.com,” says O’Mara. “I am already familiar with the auto glass industry as I have always assisted with glassBYTEs so I look forward to taking over the reins.”

“I’ve really enjoyed serving the auto glass industry over the years, but am excited to see AGRR magazine and glassBYTEs.com being placed into the hands of Sahely and Katie,” says Stacey. “I know they’re both going to enjoy it as much as I have, and I look forward to working closely with them through this period of transition as I move on to a new role here at Key.”

Megan Headley, who has served as editor of USGlass magazine for the past eight years, will begin a new role as special projects editor, effective with the March 2012 issue.

Following is the contact information: Penny Stacey, 540/720-5584, ext. 148, pstacey@glass.com; Katie Hodge O’Mara, 540-720-5584, ext. 130, komara@glass.com; Sahely Mukerji, 540-720-5584, ext. 194, smukerji@glass.com and Megan Headley, 540-720-5584, ext. 114, specialprojects@glass.com.

Umble Named Director of Auto Glass Claim Solutions for LYNX
Pittsburgh-based LYNX Services has named Chris Umble to the newly created position of executive director of auto glass claim solutions. He previously served as vice president of strategic initiatives. In addition, the company has hired Richard A. Palmer III as vice president of sales and marketing.

Umble will maintains his key account management duties and will take on responsibility for defining and executing business strategies to bring new value to existing client relationships and to drive growth in the company’s auto glass claims management segment, according to a company statement. Additionally, he will be responsible for managing and differentiating the company’s auto glass retail partner networks.

Palmer most recently served as vice president corporate sales for Mitchell International. Palmer’s responsibilities include directing sales, market development, product management, and client integration and support functions.

“LYNX Services has grown, and is growing, in significant ways beyond its original core glass claims business,” says Palmer. “I am excited about joining this successful organization and the opportunity to further its commercial growth in auto claims management, property claims management, strategic first-notice-of-loss services and beyond.”

Umble started his career with PPG Industries in 1986, and has been with LYNX Services since its inception in 1994. “As our portfolio of clients and services has grown and diversified, we have a need to expand our capabilities and yet also focus on the next generation of our core glass claims business,” says Umble.

“We continue to invest in our business and to attract the talent needed to continue to best serve the insurance industry. Richard and Chris are two dynamic leaders, both with outstanding resumes and reputations in this industry,” adds John Wysseier, president of LYNX Services and vice president and general manager of parent company PGW’s insurance and services division.

AGRR
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