Board of Directors
William M. Lasky
Chairman of the Board
William Lasky has been chairman since 2006 and has served as a director since 2004. Lasky served as president and chief executive officer of Accuride Corporation, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial vehicle components, from 2008 until his retirement in 2011. He has served as chairman of the board of Accuride Corporation from 2009-2012. Prior to Accuride, he served as the chairman of the board and president and chief executive officer of JLG Industries, a manufacturer of aerial work platforms, telescopic material handlers and related accessories from 1999 through late 2006. Prior to joining JLG Industries, Lasky served in various senior capacities at Dana Corporation from 1977 to 1999. He serves as a director of Affinia Group, Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of industrial grade replacement parts and services for automotive and heavy-duty vehicles, and as a board trustee member of Norwich University.
James Zizelman
President and Chief Executive Officer
James Zizelman is president and chief executive officer of Stoneridge, Inc. He has served as president and CEO since January 31, 2023, and was also appointed to the company’s Board of Directors at that time.
As president and CEO, Zizelman is focused on evolving and executing Stoneridge’s product portfolio through operational excellence and advanced technologies to deliver safe and efficient mobility solutions.
Zizelman’s career spans more than four decades in the automotive and mobility industry. Prior to becoming president and CEO, Zizelman served as president of Stoneridge’s Control Devices Division. In this role, Zizelman was integral in leading the transformation of the Division’s product lines and development of advanced technologies towards electrification.
Previously, Zizelman was vice president of engineering and program management for Aptiv, responsible for the company’s global engineering function and supporting the transition from Delphi. Before that, Zizelman spent more than 20 years at Delphi, leading a variety of technical and business teams for the Powertrain and Electronics divisions – driving innovation, development, and execution of all active safety, automated driving, and infotainment programs. He began his career with General Motors, in engine and fuel system management.
Zizelman holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. A member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), he is the recipient of 10 patents and has published numerous technical papers. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Lunewave, a start-up focused on transportation radar systems.
Ira C. Kaplan
Director
Ira Kaplan has served as a director since 2009. He was the managing partner of Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, a national law firm, from 2008 through 2015, and has been its Executive Chairman since then. Mr. Kaplan has been a partner with the firm since 1987. Kaplan focuses on general business and strategic counseling, corporate governance matters, and mergers and acquisitions, with a concentration on private equity and strategic clients.
Kim Korth
Director
Ms. Korth is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience running a diverse set of manufacturing and industrial companies. Ms. Korth is Managing Director of 6th Avenue Group LLC, a company she helped found in 2017 to acquire and grow niche businesses. She is also Chief Executive Officer of Engauge Workforce Solutions, a staffing agency focused on manufacturing and distribution businesses. Previously, Ms. Korth was President and CEO of Techniplas LLC, a privately held group of plastics-focused manufacturing businesses, and Supreme Corporation (NYSE: STS), a manufacturer of commercial trucks and buses. She was the founder and CEO of IRN, Inc., a boutique consulting firm focused on the automotive supplier community. She has also served on a variety of corporate boards (5 public companies and 12 private companies) over the course of her career, including Burke E. Porter Machinery Company, Shape Corp., Unique Fabricating, Autocam, and Unwired Technology. She currently serves on the Boards of Stoneridge Inc. and Engauge Workforce Solutions, and she is vice Chairwoman of Garyline Inc. Ms. Korth is known for her ability to define long-term strategic direction, establish robust operating systems to ensure operational excellence and implement optimal growth strategies. She has been instrumental in helping dozens of companies move from a history of underperformance to consistent top and bottom-line growth.
Ms. Korth earned a B.A. from Western Michigan University and a M.I.M. from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird).
George S. Mayes, Jr.
Director
George Samuel Mayes Jr has served as an independent director for Stoneridge Inc. since 2012. George also serves as chairman of Stoneridge’s Compliance and Ethics committee. George is also an independent director for Forward Air Corporation, a leading provider of ground transportation and related logistics services since 2021. George served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Diebold, Inc., a provider of integrated self-service delivery, security systems and related services. Prior to that, he served as the chief operating officer at Tinnerman Palnut Engineered Products, LLC, a designer, producer and supplier of engineered spring steel fasteners, precision stampings, plastic components and related assemblies to automotive and industrial OEMs. Additionally, Mayes served as vice president, manufacturing, fastening systems at Stanley Works, a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, mechanical access solutions and electronic security solutions, engineered fastening systems, healthcare solutions and infrastructure solutions. Mayes began his career at Delphi, a leading supplier of electronics and technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle and other market segments, and held positions of increasing responsibility over his 15-year tenure. George is a Six Sigma black belt, and is NACD certified in Cyber security risk management and oversight.
Carsten Reinhardt
Director
Carsten J. Reinhardt was appointed to the Stoneridge Board of Directors in February 2023. Reinhardt currently serves as an independent senior advisor providing consulting support to various public and private companies in Europe and North America.
Reinhardt serves as the vice chairman of the board for Grundfos Holding A/S, a leading global pump and water solutions company and serves as a board member for SAF-Holland SE, a leading Tier 1 supplier to the commercial vehicle industry. He also serves as chairman of the advisory board for Tmax Holding GmbH, a specialty supplier of high-temperature insulation technologies, and is a member of the advisory board for Beinbauer Automotive GmbH, a machining supplier to commercial vehicle and off-highway OEMs.
Previously, Reinhardt served as president and chief executive officer of Voith Turbo, a supplier of advanced drivetrain technologies. Prior to that Reinhardt served as COO of Meritor Inc. and as President of Meritor’s Commercial Vehicle Division. Before joining Meritor, Reinhardt served as President and CEO of Detroit Diesel Corporation, following a variety of management positions at Daimler Trucks North America, Freightliner and Western Star Trucks. Reinhardt started his career as a management trainee at Mercedes-Benz AG.
Reinhardt earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Esslingen University and a master’s degree in automotive engineering from the University of Hertfordshire, UK.
Sheila Rutt
Director
Sheila Rutt has spent more than 25 years in leadership roles with various global organizations including Culligan International, RR Donnelly and Diebold Nixdorf Incorporated. With 18 years of CHRO experience and more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources, Sheila is an accomplished Global HR Business Executive with a successful track record building capable and engaged teams who deliver strong business outcomes during periods of rapid growth.
Joining in July of 2023 as Hexion’s Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Rutt leads talent acquisition, talent management, total rewards, leadership development, associate relations, HRIS, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. With a deep background in talent management and associate engagement, she provides seasoned leadership that supports our mission and vision, advances our diversity and inclusion efforts, and fosters a culture that positively impacts our associates.
Paul J. Schlather
Director
Paul Schlather has served as a director since 2009. Schlather is an independent business consultant serving on a number of privately held boards. He was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP serving as co-head to the private client service group from August 2002 until his retirement in June 2008.
Frank S. Sklarsky
Director
Frank S. Sklarsky has served as director since 2021. Sklarsky most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of PPG Industries, one of the world’s leading paint and coatings companies from 2013 until his retirement in 2017. Previously, Sklarsky was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Tyco International, a global security solution, fire protection and flow control infrastructure company. Prior, he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at both ConAgra Foods, Inc. and Eastman Kodak Company.
After starting his career at Ernst & Young as a CPA, Sklarsky spent 20 years with Chrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler, serving in a series of management roles, ultimately rising to the position of vice president, Finance – Product Quality, Cost Management and Procurement.
Sklarsky serves on the executive committee for Rochester Institute of Technology’s board of trustees, where he is chairman of the university’s investment committee. He served as a board member for Nexa3D, the maker of ultrafast polymer production 3D printers, from 2019 until 2024. He served as board member and chairman of the audit committee for Cenveo Worldwide until its sale in 2022. He served on the board of directors of Harman International Industries, Inc. for almost five years until its sale to Samsung Electronics in 2017 and was a member of both the audit and compensation committees.
Sklarsky earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA from Harvard University.