Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America Inc., will retire at the end of 2017. “Pete’s leadership of Michelin North America has represented many of the best ideals of our culture at Michelin,” says Jean-Dominique Senard, CEO of Michelin Group. “With a spirit of humility and kindness, Pete has left an indelible mark on the lives of many people, even as he has inspired them to raise performance, innovation, quality, safety and so many other measures to exciting new heights.”
The company will name Selleck’s successor in January 2018, which Michelin says is "consistent with ongoing plans for the company’s global reorganization project." The company's new organization structure is expected to be implemented in early 2018.
“I’ve only had two jobs in my entire life — Michelin and the U.S. Army,” says Selleck, an engineering graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., with 26 years’ active and reserve Army service. “The company has given me the most outstanding professional journey I could ever have imagined, and I feel a debt of deepest gratitude to every person who has played a role in my career.
“My plan for several years has been to retire at this time, and my family and I are excited about the next chapter in our lives. I’ll remain available to support the business as needed, and I look forward to the success that I know will follow on the path set by the new leader for Michelin in our zone.”
As chairman and president for Michelin Group’s largest global operating unit for the past six years, Selleck was responsible for coordinating Michelin North America’s business activities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.That enterprise encompasses more than 22,000 employees.
Michelin credits Selleck for presiding over the North American business during "a period of dynamic growth, in which Michelin Group has invested nearly $4 billion in its North American operations."
He entered the role in October 2011 after serving as president of Michelin’s global heavy-truck tire unit based at the company’s headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France, for more than five years. He also was a member of Michelin’s Group Executive Committee.
"Pete Selleck leaves a lasting legacy of visionary leadership in the tire manufacturing industry," said Anne Forristall Luke, CEO and president of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).
"Pete led our organization from 2013-2015 as chairman of the board of directors when USTMA (formerly the Rubber Manufacturers Association) developed and executed a successful strategy that delivered important safety and competitive provisions in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. That public policy achievement will drive progress in the U.S. tire manufacturing industry for years to come.
"Following his term as board chair, he continued to participate vigorously with his colleagues to establish a new vision and strategy for USTMA that led to a rebranding of our organization grounded in dedication to safety through innovation, economic value and environmental stewardship.
"Pete’s commitment to the highest values and an industry that makes a better society will never be forgotten," said Luke. "We will miss his strong presence and keen insights from his three decades of industry experience at Michelin. We offer our very best wishes to Pete as he begins a new chapter."
Outside the company, Selleck has been recognized broadly by leaders throughout community, business and industry circles at local, state and national levels. In recent years, Selleck played a key role advocating for road improvements across South Carolina and fiscal reform in the federal government. He's promoted dialogue and understanding on matters of diversity and inclusion and developed technical education to support industrial careers in South Carolina. He's also supported the community of West Point alumni, the Boy Scouts of America and the United Way.
Selleck started his career with Michelin in 1982 as an industrial engineer at Michelin’s first U.S. plant. He eventually became the plant’s manager, a role he often described as “my dream job” in the years after.
He moved on to various roles in the passenger tire units in North America and Europe followed by global responsibility for the heavy-truck tire product line, before accepting his final assignment as leader of Michelin's business in North America.
Selleck and his wife, Nancy, will maintain their residence in Greenville, where he will continue to assist the company through the leadership transition and with other consulting matters as needed.
