Valcourt, Québec, - BRP appoints 17-year veteran Alain
Villemure as vice president and general manager of its Outboard Engine
division. As such, he will be responsible for all outboard engine-related
activities including product development, manufacturing operations as well as
North American sales, marketing and after-sales.
Villemure is currently leading the Vehicle Development and
Manufacturing Operations division that includes all vehicle-related
development, manufacturing operations and supply chain management of Ski-Doo
snowmobiles, Sea-Doo PWC and boats as well as Can-Am ATVs, side-by-side
vehicles and roadsters. This nomination comes into effect Sept. 4, 2012.
"The Evinrude brand has been and continues to be a
great contributor to BRP's success," José Boisjoli, president and CEO,
said. "With Alain at the lead of this new division and with the investments
we made last year to integrate product development and manufacturing under one roof,
we are well positioned to bring the brand to another level and continue to
enhance consumer experience."
Since acquiring the Evinrude brand in 2001, BRP has
revolutionized two-stroke technology with the introduction of E-Tec technology
in 2003. In 2004, BRP became the first marine engine manufacturer to receive a
Clean Air Technology Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency for its environmentally friendly Evinrude E-Tec engines. In 2009, E-Tec technology
was adapted for snowmobile engines, producing some of the most fuel-efficient engines
in the industry.
Last year, BRP announced a $15 million investment to
consolidate outboard engine development and operations in Sturtevant, WI,
to create the heart of the Evinrude brand. Regrouping these operations-everything
from R&D and production to North American sales, marketing and after sales-under
the same division creates greater focus and synergies between different but complementary
business processes.
"When I was vice president and general manager of the
Sea-Doo/Ski-Doo division, I really enjoyed working directly with the
distribution network," said Villemure. "I look forward to joining our
team in Sturtevant and developing a close relationship with the network so that
together we can raise the Evinrude consumer experience ever higher."
BRP's Spruce Pine, NC, lost-foam casting facility and the
Stuart, FL, test centre also become part of this new division.
