Cooper-Standard Recruits JCI Exec as CEO

Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. has hired auto industry veteran Jeffrey Edwards to become its president and CEO on Oct. 15. He also will fill those jobs at the company's Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. subsidiary.

Edwards joins the Novi, Mich.-based company from Johnson Controls Inc., where he has headed its Asian automotive unit. Cooper-Standard, a maker of fuel systems, body sealing technologies and thermal management components, is focused on boosting its sales in Asia.

Edwards' previous at JCI jobs included general manager of the North American auto unit, head of product and business development and general manager of the interiors unit in Japan and Asia Pacific.

At Cooper-Standard, he succeeds James McElya, 65, who will retire after five years as chief executive. McElya will continue in his other role as chairman until his term expires in May 2013.

McElya steered Cooper-Standard through bankruptcy in 2009-2010. The company's net income climbed 58% to $101 million in the first half of 2012 as revenue rose 3% to $1.5 billion.