PORTLAND, Ore. (April 4, 2016) — Northwest Tire Factory has promoted Walter Lybeck, chief financial officer and interim CEO, to CEO, filling a position vacant since August 2015 when former CEO John Kreidel left the company.
Mr. Lybeck, CFO since 2010, was selected by the group's board of directors after a “lengthy nationwide search,” according to Board Chairman Eric Gill, owner of 14 Point S/Tire Factory locations in Oregon.
Mr. Gill said the board sought a CEO “with the skills to operate the company, grow its membership and continue our history of profitable growth.
“After interviewing several qualified candidates, the search committee was unanimous in selecting Walter as the candidate with the right blend of experience, operational, financial skills and cultural fit required to do the job successfully,” he added. “Walter has earned a great reputation among members as interim CEO, and his selection will be very popular.”
Mr. Lybeck said he's “excited about Northwest Tire Factory's business model, the quality of its members, employees, and financial performance; but most of all its potential for profitable growth.
“I'm looking forward to helping the company achieve its full potential.”
Prior to joining Northwest Tire Factory, Mr. Lybeck was director of finance and accounting at Rejuvenation Inc. He also worked in financial positions for Nautilus Inc., Oregon Steel Mills, Intel Corp. and Delloitte L.L.P.
Portland-based Northwest Tire Factory is a member owned co-op that allied itself in 2015 with Point S, a group of 3700 independent tire stores worldwide, and is in the process of leading its members through the process of converting their store identity to Point S Tire & Auto Service from Tire Factory.