The word is icon. The person who fits that description is Mort Schwartz.
Say "Mort" and everyone knows whom you are talking about. With 40 years of unrelenting service to the automotive aftermarket,
he is not only one of the most recognizable people in the industry but also one of the most influential.
Indeed, there are only a few people in the aftermarket that have the knowledge, insight and perspective that Schwartz has.
He can speak with authority on any number of companies because he has been an integral part of several leading companies.
Moreover, he can speak with authority on any number of aftermarket topics because of the leadership positions he has held
and the policies that he has either developed or help developed in those positions.
For instance, who better to ask about how the purchase of Strauss Discount Auto by Japan's Autobacs Seven than the former
CEO of Strauss? Or who better to ask about WORLDPAC's global sourcing strategy than a current director of the company? Truly an industry treasure, Schwartz has touched many lives through his other affiliations. Just for a taste, they include
serving as chairman of Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA), Automotive Wholesale Distributors Association
(AWDA) and California Arizona Wholesalers Association (CAWA), as well as serving as a director for the Automotive Hall of
Fame, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
Just for good measure, he has been the chairman of Jarmms Associates since 1990.
Mort Schwartz has looked over the aftermarket from all sides for 40 years.
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Besides his stint as Chairman and CEO of Strauss, he led Chanslor & Lyon, Import Parts of America and Thermo King of Northern
California. He also served as president of Maremont's Distribution Group.
As a former captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was destined to be a leader. He earned his holds bachelor's and
master's degrees from New York University and was an instructor at Rutgers University for a period of time.
During his career, Schwartz has received numerous awards, his recent induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame. In addition,
he has received the University of the Aftermarket Foundation Award, AWDA Martin Fromm Lifetime Achievement Award, Alliance
of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA) honorary member, Mort Schwartz Fellowship at Northwood University, APAA
Executive of the Year, AWDA University Founders Award, Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Citation, AWDA Man of
the Year Award and Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Triangle Award. He also received a very rare distinction:
an honorary doctorate from Northwood University in 2007.
One of the accomplishments that Schwartz is proudest of is being the founder and long-running chairman off the Global Automotive
Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). Now chairman emeritus of the symposium, he remains active and vocal about the choice of topics,
speakers and format. Under his direction in the past and with his ongoing support and input, GAAS is the one and only industry
conference where all the major players in the industry gather to learn about the industry's trends. More importantly, the
proceeds go to scholarships to students who want to pursue aftermarket careers. And none of it would have happened without
Schwarz's vision and commitment.
1. O'Reilly finally has entered into a merger agreement with CSK. What is your outlook for this merger?
It should be good for all parties involved. O'Reilly has a fine track record and are very good operators. The integration
will take time, patience and resources. If they can keep the momentum they have in the rest of the country while simultaneously
integrating CSK, they will do well.
2. You were Chairman and CEO of Strauss Discount Auto from 1990 to 1998 so the news last April of Autobacs Seven acquisition
of Strauss probably piqued your interest. What's your assessment of deal after one year? Does this acquisition provide Autobacs
with a springboard to significantly broaden its footprint in the United States? Other than Autobacs, is there any other foreign
auto parts entity poised to enter the aftermarket?
I believe it has been good for both Strauss and Autobacs. Strauss has a well established name in their market and Autobacs
gives stability to the company. Strauss associates and customers can now have confidence that the company will survive. It
provides Autobacs a base to expand and/or make acquisitions. Strauss has an excellent management team headed up by Joe Catalano.
Evidently, Autobacs tested a store in California for a few years and must understand the complexities of starting an organization
from the ground up without an infrastructure. I do believe that Strauss has a solid infrastructure that geometric growth
can be built upon. Autobacs has a well developed model in Japan and I am confident they will embark on market development
once they believe the foundation is strong and solid for additional expansion. Autobacs operates in various segments of the
aftermarket, which provides a strategic advantage over an organization that focuses on a specific sector. I think it will
take some time, but I believe that Autobacs is a potential force to be considered in the U. S. Aftermarket.
