Jay Burkhart is vice president and chief strategy officer for the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), and executive director of its China Office.
Burkhart’s responsibilities at AASA are instrumental in developing the association’s short and long term strategic roadmap and providing executive leadership and insight to the industry analysis team. His international expertise provides strategic guidance and global aftermarket direction to Dr. Yilong Chen, managing director of the new MEMA China Center in Shanghai, also the location of the AASA China Aftermarket Office. He also leads the China Aftermarket Forum, which supports AASA member companies as they navigate and expand in the country’s booming aftermarket.
Burkhart comes to AASA following a 16-year career at Federal-Mogul, where he most recently served as a senior vice president at Federal-Mogul Motorparts. He began his aftermarket career in 1989 at Tenneco Inc., where he reached the position of vice president of global marketing prior to joining Federal-Mogul in 1998. Burkhart’s earlier career included 11 years of consumer package goods (CPG) experience at Beatrice Corp. (now ConAgra) and Borden Inc.
He has been an active volunteer on many industry boards and organizations, including the AASA Board of Governors (2009 – 2011); the Auto Service Excellence (ASE) board (2000 – 2003); and chairman of the Car Care Campaign of the Auto Care Association (2006 – 2008). Burkhart received the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) “Pursuit of Excellence” award in 2007 and the 2006 Education Award, Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket School of Management.
Burkhart earned his MBA and his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.