Tim Vehlewald, President and CEO of ACL Distribution, Inc., has announced his retirement effective December 31, 2015, according to ACL’s Executive Vice President, Juan Bez.

“My commitment to ACL has kept me centered on what needed to be done for the continued growth and success of the company,” said Vehlewald. “I am very pleased with the results of our efforts at ACL, and am confident the company is now positioned well for future success.”

Vehlewald indicated that ACL’s management staff remains intact and the company has significant plans for growth over the next few years.

“Certainly there were many positive and memorable experiences throughout my career,” he said. “I am grateful for the experience and the people I have shared these with over the years. Simply put, it’s time to focus on different things.”

Vehlewald said he feels it’s time for another chapter in his career. “With nearly 40 years of a career that has covered travel to over 20 countries on 5 continents, I have been developing skills as much as I have been accumulating airline miles. Over the years I have been approached to utilize some of these skills in areas that were of greater interest to me.”

Over nearly 40 years, Vehlewald has held leadership roles and committee positions with many key industry organizations, including AASA, OAC, PERA, AERA, OAC, AWDA and others.

Vehlewald began his career in 1976 at Borg Warner, in Franklin Park, IL. As an inside salesman hoping to “learn the ropes” of the automotive aftermarket, he recalls, “It was a culture shock to say the least and fraught with intimidation. Here I was, a twenty-year-old from rural Missouri stepping into a job that over time became a career.”

Vehlewald advanced through the ranks during his 14-year tenure at Borg Warner and attained the position of Vice President of sales with responsibility for a sales volume of $120 million and management of more than 150 territory, district and regional sales people.

In 1990, he accepted the position of Director of Sales with Sealed Power Replacement Division of SPX Corporation in Muskegon, MI. Less than two years later, Federal-Mogul Corporation purchased Sealed Power and Vehlewald moved his family for the 10th time to become Director of Programmed Distribution at Federal-Mogul in the Detroit area.

Then in 1996, Vehlewald became President and CEO of ACL America, Inc. with sales and distribution responsibilities for North, Central and South America. ACL America was then a division of Automotive Components Limited with headquarters in Australia. Vehlewald then purchased ACL Distribution Inc., located in Grand Rapids, MI in 2010. Two years later he sold the operation to an Asian automotive parts manufacturer and has continued on as President and CEO until the present time.