Military and commercial specialized vehicle maker AM General yesterday said that John Ulrich, a former executive with a division of General Dynamics [GD], will join the company on Jan. 14 to the new position of executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO).
AM General said the new position was created to strengthen the executive management team and that Ulrich will report directly to Charles Hall, president and CEO of the company. The addition of Ulrich will also enable Hall to spend more time on the strategic direction of the company.
“John brings to AM General demonstrated financial acumen, a proven track record of driving and delivering program and operational performance excellence, and a keen sense of listening to customers’ needs and delivering value added solutions,” Hall said in a statement. “”He joins AM General at a time when our global customers are changing the way they approach business decisions, and we must continue to change and adapt to meet their needs.”
Ulrich most recently was COO of GD’s Ordnance & Tactical Systems unit and before that he was president of GD’s European Land Systems business, which is based in Vienna, with responsibility for operating units in Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Ulrich also served as senior vice president of GD’s Land Systems business in Canada, overseeing international wheeled businesses in Canada and Australia.
AM General said that Ulrich will be responsible for overseeing its operations, product development and program management.
AM General makes the High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle for the United States armed forces, better known as the Humvee, and a commercial variant of that vehicle called the HUMMER. The company also has a division called General Engine Products that makes diesel engines.