Stanton Chase Opens New Office in Detroit
May 20, 2016 – Stanton Chase International has opened a new office in Detroit to serve its corporate clients in the manufacturing, automotive, commercial vehicle, and defense industries. Rich Kolpasky, a veteran search consultant and former senior executive in the automotive sector, will head up the office as managing director.
Metro Detroit has propelled Michigan’s national ranking in emerging technology fields, including life sciences, information technology, and advanced manufacturing. Michigan ranks fourth in the U.S. in high tech employment with 568,000 high tech workers, which includes 70,000 in the automotive industry.
In addition to his expertise in the automotive industry, Mr. Kolpasky also has experience in a variety of other sectors, most notably the defense industry, which has a major presence in Michigan. Prior to joining Stanton Chase, he served in various positions with Korn Ferry and Boyden. Before his career in executive search, he was a senior-level executive within the Tier I automotive segment and held positions in engineering, program management, operations, sales & marketing, and general management.
Mr. Kolpasky was president of North American Seating for Faurecia SA and president of Global Fluid Carrying Systems for TI Automotive. He also has experience in the defense sector as both a soldier and as a civilian professional. He was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery and is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses. Following his military service, he was a principal with Booz Allen Hamilton and was involved in numerous ground-based R&D programs as an engineer and program manager.
“It is a distinct pleasure to welcome Rich to the Stanton Chase family,” said Daniel Casteel, regional vice president, North America for Stanton Chase. “With the opening of this office, Stanton Chase becomes one of the few global search firms with an office in the area. Rich has deep contacts in the business community and will be a great asset to us as he helps Midwest companies build their senior leadership teams.”
“As a friendly competitor over the years, I have always been impressed with the Stanton Chase business model and its global footprint,” said Mr. Kolpasky. “The collegial atmosphere and entrepreneurial spirit among the offices are particularly impressive, since the goal is to always find the finest executives to lead clients into the future.”
Stanton Chase has made a handful of additions to its staff in recent months:
- The firm named Will Pleva as a partner and sector leader for its global supply chain and strategic sourcing practice in New York. With 25 years of search experience he has conducted more than 500 supply chain and strategic sourcing engagements across a variety of sectors. Since 1983, Mr. Pleva has been with Leslie Kavanagh Associates, a boutique search firm specializing in recruiting global supply chain, strategic sourcing and program management leaders.
- Stanton Chase also recently added Dickson Smith, John DiBenedetto and Robert Mulligan to its Boston office. Mr. Smith, who became managing director, has 25 years of executive search experience specializing in the recruitment of financial services professionals. Mr. DiBenedetto brings financial services experience having worked in the asset management space in both New York and Boston. Mr. Mulligan joined as an advisory director with 28 years of experience in the sale and distribution of investment vehicles.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media
