Lear Hires Absmeier as Chief Tech Officer

Lear Corp. has appointed John Absmeier to the newly created position of chief technology officer, effective June 18.

A long-time industry veteran, Absmeier most recently was vice president of smart machines at Samsung Electronics Co. Last year he led Samsung’s $8 billion acquisition of Harman International Industries Inc. and became senior vice president of the company’s advanced safety and autonomous vehicle business.

Absmeier previously spent 19 years at Delphi Corp., where he founded and served as the managing director of the company’s Silicon Valley and autonomous vehicles division (now Aptiv plc). He also held executive positions for Delphi’s hybrid and electric vehicle operations in Asia.

Absmeier has a bachelor's degree in engineering from Purdue University and a dual master's in mechanical engineering and management technology from the University of California at Berkeley. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.