Meritor Announces Leadership Changes

Jay Craig, CEO and President, will become Executive Chairman of the Board and Chris Villavarayan will succeed him as CEO.

Meritor CEO and President Jay Craig (left); COO and Executive Vice President Chris Villavarayan (right)
Meritor CEO and President Jay Craig (left); COO and Executive Vice President Chris Villavarayan (right)
Meritor Inc.
Logo Meritor 10259657

Meritor, Inc. announces Jay Craig, Chief Executive Officer and President, will transition to the role of executive chairman of the Board of Directors on February 28, 2021. Chris Villavarayan, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been selected to succeed Craig as Chief Executive Officer and President at that time and will also join the company's board. Meritor's current chairman, William R. Newlin, will become lead director of the Board as part of this transition plan. 

"On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Jay for his stewardship and commitment to Meritor," Newlin says. "Under Jay's leadership, Meritor has expanded its product portfolio, strengthened its financial foundation and delivered significant value to shareholders. We look forward to his ongoing contributions as executive chairman of the board. As Jay transitions to his new role, we are fortunate to have Chris, who has overseen global operations for the company, in addition to product and customer strategy and supplier relationship management, step in as CEO to help usher in the next phase of growth and innovation."

"With our M2022 plan well underway, now is an ideal time to begin a leadership transition," says Craig. "Chris has been an integral member of our leadership team and my partner in executing successful M2016 and M2019 plans. I am confident he will build upon Meritor's long track-record of serving customers, driving shareholder value and supporting our global employees. I am excited to continue working closely with Chris and supporting Meritor's ongoing success as executive chairman."

Craig continues, "It has been an honor to lead Meritor and I am humbled by the team's unwavering commitment to our strategic direction. We remain steadfast in our drive for innovation and superior customer service."

Villavarayan says, "I am deeply honored to assume the CEO role and am energized by the opportunities to advance our technology leadership in the commercial vehicle market. Over the last 20 years at Meritor, I have worked alongside some of the best and most innovative talent in the industry. I would like to thank Jay for his guidance and support and the board for placing its trust in me. I look forward to building on the successful 'M' plans and continuing to partner with Jay and the Board, the leadership team and our employees to further solidify Meritor's leadership position in our traditional businesses, while also investing in future technologies, such as electric drivetrains."

About Chris Villavarayan

Villavarayan joined Meritor in June 2000, and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer where he has global operating responsibility for both of Meritor's business segments, Global Truck and Aftermarket & Industrial and Trailer. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and President of Meritor's Global Truck segment since January 2018.

Before being appointed Senior Vice President and President of Meritor's Global Truck segment, Villavarayan served as President of Truck Americas, responsible for Meritor's Commercial Truck, Defense and Specialty businesses in North and South America. He also had responsibility for Meritor's Global Components Engineering, Product Validation and Materials Engineering, as well as Engineering and Program Management. Also at Meritor, he served as Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management and Managing Director for Meritor's operations in India, leading Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems (India) Ltd.

Villavarayan holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

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