SAN FRANCISCO -- Harley-Davidson Inc. said late Monday that Keith Wandell will become president and chief executive officer, effective May 1. Wandell, 59, will succeed James Ziemer, who is retiring. Wandell is currently president and chief operating officer of Johnson Controls Inc.

 

I wish him much success...

 

Keith Wandell, well doe's Keith own a Harley or ride any back ground on him any one

 

Here is a pretty good link on him

http://www.jsonline.com/business/42550397.html

He currently does not have a bike, although his brother does ride and he has ridden his brother's bikes. One scary bit, he is talking about new markets LIKE DIRT BIKES, haven't we been down this road before? At least he recognizes that a big piece of Harley is the brand and the tradition.

 

It'll be interesting to see what a ner CEO could bring to the table.

 

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) has four plants in the area here and are anticipating deep cuts and layoffs. I am wondering if this guy is a real deal or one to thin the forces.

 

Seems like a good decision. An outsider has not personal biases or loyalties to any particular program or project. No agenda.

He just knows that he has to make objective decisions about evolving the brand within a dynamic and diminishing market.

As for dirtbikes, I disagree. That market is already diluted with too many brands.

 

I don’t know how a guy can effectively run H-D if he is not rider. The old saying, “If I have to explain, you won’t understand.” applies in this situation. I don’t think you can truly appreciate what Harley-Davidson IS if you haven’t already felt led to discover it. If this man, at age 51, has never felt led to buy a motorcycle (and, Lord knows he has the money), then he is never going to be in it for the love of the hobby or of “the brand.”

Let’s be honest, running H-D is not like running Honda. You can’t dryly discuss Harley-Davidson as “the brand.” Harley-Davidson transcends brand in the marketing sense. Remember when AMF bought H-D? They thought of it as “a brand” too. They treated it like one and they nearly ruined it.

Harley-Davidson is a passion for millions of Americans. It is also part of the fabric and heritage of America. It should never be operated as “a brand” because it is not one. Don’t try and market Harley-Davidson. Support the genuine kinship that used to come with owning one and people will come to H-D because they’ll want to be a part of that. The “brand” will speak for itself.

 

Well said, TerryFXST.

 

well put! I don't think you need to ride to be a CEO but you need to be a rider to understand Harley Davidson and what it means! it's as American as baseball and I don't think we've ever picketed to bitch that we pay too much! It is what it is and we love it regardless because riding is a feeling that sometimes cannot be described and that alone says a lot!