Chet is a Senior Consultant with The Hayes Group International, bringing extensive leadership experience in manufacturing, particularly within the automotive and aerospace industries. Over his 40-year career, Chet has held senior roles with Ford Motor Company, TRW, SKF, and spent his last 27 years with GKN. His coaching expertise focuses on leadership development, high-potential talent management, and organizational strategy. Chet has worked globally, including in Germany, China, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico, and has led initiatives in business strategy deployment, operations, and systems implementation.
In his most recent role as Vice President of Business Development for GKN Driveline Americas, Chet was part of the UK-based Strategic Acquisition Team and served as the Americas Integration Leader. He worked closely with local governments and educational institutions to develop investment plans, employee development programs, and infrastructure improvements across the Americas region. Chet also mentored and coached high-potential leaders at GKN, serving as keynote speaker at the company’s Americas Leadership Development Program and sponsoring a global team within the GKN Management Development Program.
Chet is well-versed in Lean principles and the Toyota Production System and is a certified Continuous Improvement Leader. In addition to his corporate roles, he has contributed to the community as a Steering Committee Member for the Alamance Community College Center of Excellence and as part of the Person County Community College President Selection Committee.
Chet holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan Technological University and an MBA in International Finance from the University of Pittsburgh. His diverse international experience and expertise in leadership development make him a trusted advisor for organizations seeking to build strong, effective leadership teams.
