Babcox named Scott Shriber as publisher of BodyShop Business, a Babcox publication that serves the collision-repair industry. Shriber, previously was with the Ford Motor Co. for 28 years in a number of positions and, most recently, was the national sales manager for OEConnection. He will officially take over as publisher on Monday, July 25.
Robert Grusky and William Crowley were elected to the AutoZone board of directors. The move is the result of an agreement with ESL Investments, AutoZone’s largest shareholder, through which the company agreed to add three new members to its board of directors. The company expects to add a third board member by December 2008. Grusky is the founder of the investment firm Hope Capital Management LLC and co-founder of New Mountain Capital LLC, a private equity firm. Crowley has served as a director and executive vice president of Sears Holdings Corp. since March 2005.
Jack Roush has partnered with Valvoline to create Roush Motor Oil, a line of six new motor oils for early- and late-model performance engines. Roush Fenway Racing currently uses Valvoline in its stock cars. For more information, visit www.roushoil.com.
Pirelli announced that the Silvio Tronchetti Provera Foundation and the University of Shandong in Jinan (China) signed a research agreement for the study of new ecologically friendly tires. The university researchers will work in cooperation with the scientists in Pirelli’s R&D department to produce low-rolling-resistance tires. Pirelli’s goal is to create more eco-compatible tires, such as its new “green” (Cinturato) tire it released in Europe earlier this year.
Hagerty Insurance recently launched Car Club Central, an online resource tool for car clubs and their members. The resource showcases the benefits and features that Hagerty offers to car clubs nationwide and makes those benefits more easily available. More information is available at www.hagerty.com/carclubcentral.
Two Bridgestone commercials, “Scream” and “Lucky Dog,” were chosen as finalists at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, which recognizes advertising creativity around the world. As finalists, the commercials were placed among the top 10% of more than 4,600 entries from 85 countries. “One of the driving forces of our Bridgestone brand team, including our teammates in advertising and marketing, is a shared passion for excellence, and these ads hit that standard,” stated Phil Pacsi, vice president of consumer marketing Bridgestone Firestone North America. “To receive this level of recognition at such a prestigious festival is remarkable.”