TROY, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Horizon Global Corporation (NYSE: HZN), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of branded towing and trailering equipment, announced today that its Board of Directors appointed Richard J. Jok as interim Chief Financial Officer and Matthew J. Meyer as Chief Accounting Officer. Both appointments are effective December 13, 2019.
Prior to his appointment as interim Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Jok served as the Company’s Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis. Mr. Jok replaces outgoing Chief Financial Officer Jamie G. Pierson, who is stepping down from the role effective December 13, 2019.
The departure of Mr. Pierson is not due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices, nor does it reflect any disagreements about the Company’s past financial reports or disclosures.
Terry Gohl, Horizon Global’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are pleased to announce Rick as Horizon Global’s interim Chief Financial Officer. Rick has substantial automotive industry experience and we believe he is well-suited to lead our global finance function. We look forward to Rick’s heightened contributions to the business.”
John Kennedy, Horizon Global’s Board Chair remarked, “We are pleased to have a strong leader like Rick step in as interim Chief Financial Officer. With Rick in place, we have continuity within the function and the business, as a whole, and our focus can remain on driving our many business improvement initiatives.”
Prior to Mr. Meyer’s appointment as Chief Accounting Officer, he served as Horizon Global’s Corporate Controller. In his new role, Mr. Meyer will be responsible for the Company’s global financial reporting, accounting and tax functions.
With respect to Mr. Meyer’s appointment, Gohl stated, “Matt did an exceptional job for us as Corporate Controller and his promotion to Chief Accounting Officer is well deserved. We believe Matt’s diverse accounting, tax and finance experience will lend itself to success in this expanded role.”
Mr. Jok has served as the Company’s Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, since August 2019. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Jok served as the Chief Financial Officer of OE Automotive Group, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Crowne Group, LLC, an automotive supplier of formed metal tubing and precision plastic components (“Crowne Group”), from March 2016 to February 2018. In February 2018, Crowne Group spun off OE Automotive Group, LLC to form Vari-Form Group, LLC (“Vari-Form”). Mr. Jok served as Chief Financial Officer of Vari-Form from February 2018 to May 2018. Previously, Mr. Jok was employed by Nexteer Automotive Corporation, an automotive steering and driveline supplier, in positions of increasing responsibility from January 2003 to January 2015, ultimately serving as its Chief Financial Officer, Saginaw Division, from March 2011 to January 2015.
Mr. Meyer has served as the Company’s Corporate Controller, since November 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Meyer served as Corporate Controller for Joyson Safety Systems, a global leader in mobility safety providing safety-critical components, systems and technology to automotive and non-automotive markets, from December 2015 to November 2018. From January 2015 to December 2015, Mr. Meyer served as Director, Accounting and Reporting for Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation, a developer, manufacturer and supplier of products for automotive, commercial, aerospace, marine, rail and off-road vehicles; and industrial, agricultural and power-generation applications (“Federal-Mogul”). Prior to his position with Federal-Mogul, from September 2011 to January 2015, Mr. Meyer served in a variety of management positions of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as Compliance Director for Kelly Services Inc., a global leader in providing workforce solutions, including outsourcing and consulting services. Mr. Meyer also served in a variety of positions leading up to an Audit Manager position with KPMG, LLP, a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, from January 2007 to September 2011.
About Horizon Global
Horizon Global is the #1 designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high-quality, custom-engineered towing, trailering, cargo management and other related accessory products in North America and Europe. The Company serves OEMs, retailers, dealer networks and the end consumer as the category leader in the automotive, leisure and agricultural market segments. Horizon provides its customers with outstanding products and services that reflect the Company’s commitment to market leadership, innovation and operational excellence. The Company’s mission is to utilize forward-thinking technology to develop and deliver best-in-class products for our customers, engage our employees and create value for our shareholders. Horizon Global is home to some of the world’s most recognized brands in the towing and trailering industry, including: BULLDOG, Draw-Tite, Fulton, Reese, Tekonsha, and Westfalia. Horizon Global has approximately 4,200 employees in 37 facilities across 15 countries. For more information, please visit www.horizonglobal.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date they are made and give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “target,” “plan” or other comparable words, or by discussions of strategy that may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to: the Company’s leverage; liabilities and restrictions imposed by the Company’s debt instruments; market demand; competitive factors; supply constraints; material and energy costs; technology factors; litigation; government and regulatory actions including the impact of any tariffs, quotas or surcharges; the Company’s accounting policies; future trends; general economic and currency conditions; various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry; the success of the Company’s action plan, including the actual amount of savings and timing thereof; the success of our business improvement initiatives in Europe-Africa, including the amount of savings and timing thereof; the Company’s exposure to product liability claims from customers and end users, and the costs associated therewith; the Company’s ability to meet its covenants in the agreements governing its debt; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s continued listing standards; and other risks that are discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The risks described herein are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deemed to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations or cash flows. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contacts
CONTACT:
Jeff Tryka, CFA
Investor Relations
(616) 295-2509
jtryka@horizonglobal.com
