Didier Simon
Président, Directeur Général / Industrie / France et International
Starts his career with Renault (engineer, Architect, then 4x4 project manager for international projects) where he stays nine years.Then, joined in 1994 the German manufacturer ZF, as Technical Director of the steering division.
Leaves ZF in 1999 to move to Michigan, USA, to set up and develope from scratch a company, designing, selling, and manufacturing auto Chassis parts. He sells this $40M profitable company, Auto Chassis International,Inc in June 2005.
Takes over mid 2005 as CEO and board member the French company SNR located in Annecy, France in order to turn it over, then to find a new shareholder-partner. He implements the sale of this company to the Japanese group NTN mid 2007.
Manages currently the company La Toulousaine, group of 90 ME sales, head office located in Toulouse, specialist of doors, gates, fences, curtains for residential and industrial customers.
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34 contacts2005 - 2007I took over in june 2005, as CEO, the management of SNR group. SNR ( 650ME, 4200 people, 8 manufacturing locations over the world, Subsidiary of Renault Group) designs, developes, manufactures and sells bearings for Automobile, Industry, and aerospace applications.
I had to turn around SNR Group and to negociate and implement a merge with the Japanese group, NTN.
The sale was signed in 2007.
2000 - 2005Set up and incorporate, as President and CEO, the subsidiary of ACI, Renault Group, in Détroit, USA, in order to developpe the business of Chassis components and modules.
Set up a complete team of sales, finance, engineering and purchasing, then built a plant in Michigan in 2001.
Developed the business with the main car manufacturers, FORD USA and GM.
Had to sell this profitable business in 2005 following the break down of the french parent company, ACI.
I signed the sale of the company in August 2005.
1994 - 1999Steering business division; worlwide customers, automotive OEMs.
The division was based on 7 plants over Europe, North america, South america.
As technical Director, I managed the development of the products for the division, the steering columns, got GM and FORD as new customers in North america.
1984 - 1994Automotive business; different positions; engineering, Manufacturing Engineering of components, project manager for AWD international developpemnts