Wandell gains title of Harley chairman
Harley-Davidson’s board of directors on Wednesday added the title of chairman of the board to Keith Wandell’s existing president and CEO roles.
Wells Fargo Securities senior analyst Tim Conder said the addition of the chairman role for Wandell “is well deserved, in our view, given his leadership in the significant necessary transformation of HOG’s operations over the last three years, and reflects confidence in his leadership in setting future strategy for the company.”
“Keith is a transcendent leader who has done an outstanding job of guiding Harley-Davidson in a period of extraordinary challenge and transformation,” said Barry K. Allen, who has served as the company’s non-executive Chairman since 2009.
“When Keith joined Harley-Davidson as CEO in 2009, the board believed it essential for him to be able to devote his full energy to strategies to move the business forward, without the distraction of board leadership responsibilities,” Allen said. “With the company’s tremendous progress under Keith’s leadership over the last three years, the board believes the time is right to recombine the roles of chairman and CEO.”
Additionally, the board named Richard I. Beattie as lead director. Beattie has been an outside director of Harley-Davidson since 1996. As lead director, Beattie will head the oversight and monitoring activities of the board that would otherwise be performed by a non-executive chairman.
Wandell joined Harley-Davidson in May 2009 as the company’s first outside CEO since 1981. Beginning in fall 2009, the company embarked on a major new strategy to focus exclusively on the Harley-Davidson brand and transform the company’s approach to product development, manufacturing and the retail experience.
“I am grateful for the confidence the board has placed in me, since I first came to Harley-Davidson, to work with everyone in this great organization to build a bright future for our company,” Wandell said. “On behalf of the directors and all our stakeholders, we express our deep gratitude to Barry for his board leadership and we look forward to his continued guidance and contributions as a director.”
