American Tire Distributors (ATD) is in the midst of a restructuring, having eliminated nearly 100 field support center positions, with plans to add 40 new employees. The great majority of the eliminated positions were at the company’s Huntersville, NC headquarters and cover various support roles, including human resources, finance and information technology (IT).
As for the 40 positions coming on, ATD hasn’t specified the exact roles or timing, but they likely will align with the company’s strategy to focus on new technology, data analytics and supply chain.
The news is the latest in a tough year for ATD, as Bridgestone Americas and the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. ended their distribution relationships with the company in favor of TireHub LLC, a tire distribution joint venture the tire companies started in early July.
ATD has vowed to evolve by bringing game-changing innovation — including digital tools, programs and technical support — to the industry. The job eliminations, and additions, are part of CEO Stuart Schuette‘s transformation plans, which began about two years ago. The goal is to adjust ATD’s approximately 5,000 employees to meet the company’s current goals.
In a July 25 letter to employees, Schuette wrote:
“The decision to reorganize our field support center was not made lightly, but it was critical for us to align our capabilities with our strategy.
“More than 18 months ago, we began our transformation to become the most connected and insightful automotive solutions provider, and every decision that we have made — and will make — is grounded in realizing this vision,” the letter continued. “The digital tools and advanced technologies that we’ve introduced are key differentiators for ATD, and are being recognized by both aligned customers and manufacturers.”
ATD’s goal is to improve its partnership with customers and convince them to stay with ATD, even if that means changing brand allegiances, he wrote.
The letter concluded: “Today, you should remember that ATD has been an enduring brand for more than 80 years because we aren’t afraid of change. We make the change. We are the innovators, the disrupters and the leaders.
“We have a plan that we are working through with our sponsors, and, over the course of the next few months — through all of our efforts — we will pave the road ahead of us. We look forward to sharing this with you as it becomes finalized.”