Omni United names distribution prez

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (May 10, 2016) — Singapore-based international tire distributor Omni United Pte. Ltd. has named former Michelin North America Inc. executive Brett Martin president of the distribution division of its Omni United USA Inc. subsidiary.

Mr. Martin will head the division with responsibility for the company's “rapidly growing” distribution business in the U.S., according to Omni.

A tire industry veteran with more than 36 years of experience, Mr. Martin's resume includes 23 years of handling various key roles in the distribution sector. He last held a position as senior vice president of distribution for Michelin's TCi Tire Centers L.L.C. subsidiary, where he oversaw 85 distribution centers in the U.S.

He previously held a number of positions with TCi, including regional director West Coast and distribution center manager. Omni added that Mr. Martin also has experience in tire retailing.

The company said it is rapidly expanding its distribution business in the U.S. and — with its recent acquisition of Interstate Tire Distributor (ITD), a Commerce, Calif.-based wholesaler that operated six locations in four Western states — Omni currently manages seven warehouses with access to a network of more than 3,500 retailers. Omni also recently set up a mixing warehouse in Riverside, Calif. — with a capacity of 80,000 square feet — that will serve the needs of ITD customers.

“We are carefully plotting our distribution footprint in areas where we do not have wholesale customers in the Unites States,” said G.S. Sareen, founder and CEO of Omni United. “Our focus remains to get as close as possible to as many retail accounts as we possibly can.

“The distribution model is rapidly changing, and it is important to get the retail customers what they want and when they want it. We strive to achieve this either through our partner distributors or through our own distribution centers.”

Mr. Sareen added that the hiring of Mr. Martin “will assist Omni United to grow and manage our multi-brand distribution business in the U.S., as Brett has a tremendous amount of experience in managing such businesses. At TCi Brett was managing not just the distribution of the Michelin brand, but also a host of other brands, which is very much in line with our strategy.”

Omni United offers passenger car, SUV, truck, bus and farm tires marketed under brand names Radar; Timberland — a partnership with global outdoor footwear and lifestyle brand Timberland L.L.C.; Goodride; RoadLux; Speedways; and Birla.

The company, founded in 2003 by Mr. Sareen, does business in more than 80 countries worldwide and claims its products are sold in more than 1,000 retail outlets nationwide.