VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Ricardo announced today that it has appointed Dave Pickett to the newly created position of global procurement director, effective immediately. Pickett will be responsible for maintaining efficiency and profitability from its worldwide purchasing operations.
Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and deep-content strategic management consultant to the world's transportation sector industries.
Since joining Ricardo in 2000, Pickett has held a wide range of senior managerial roles in operations, program delivery and testing. His most recent assignment has been as interim managing director of the company's German subsidiary, Ricardo Deutschland GmbH, a role in which he made a significant and positive impact in developing the business and improving profitability.
Pickett has a bachelor’s and master's degree in electronics, from City University in London and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in England. The early part of his industrial career was spent with a number of companies including 10 years with Silvertech, a specialist supplier of safety shutdown systems to the oil and gas industry, where his roles included operational management, project delivery and procurement. His final position at Silvertech before joining Ricardo was as projects director.
In this key new position with the company, Pickett will report directly to Ricardo CEO, Dave Shemmans.
"Procurement is an important aspect of our business worldwide as we grow and develop Ricardo in new markets and geographical regions. I believe that Dave Pickett will bring a new impetus to our purchasing operations, realizing the many strategic opportunities available to us and in doing so, delivering tangible benefits to our customers and shareholders," Shemmans said.
The company's engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies. Its customers include the world's major automakers, tier 1 suppliers and leading motorsport teams.
The headquarters of Ricardo's U.S. operations, Ricardo Inc., is located at Van Buren Township, Mich. The company's skill base represents the state-of-the-art in low emissions and fuel-efficient powertrain technology, and can be best summarized: "Ricardo is Fuel Economy." Ricardo plc posted sales of $344 million in financial year 2007 and is a constituent of the FTSE techMark 100 index — a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information visit www.ricardo.com.
