Midas Exec VP Mike Gould retiring

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2016) — Mike Gould, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Midas since 2012, will retire at year-end after a 36-year career with the automotive service franchise group.

TBC Corp., which bought Midas in 2012, has hired Ron Seagle, former vice president of operations for Bridgestone Americas Inc., to succeed Mr. Gould as executive vice president and general manager overseeing the Midas and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service businesses.

Mr. Gould was senior vice president, franchise operations, at Midas Inc. prior to TBC's buying it in 2012. He started with Midas as a mechanic at a Royal Oak, Mich., store in 1980 and worked his way up the Midas corporate ladder, serving as store manager, market manager, vice president of franchise operations and vice president of company-owned operations, according to TBC.

“Mike has been an integral part of the Midas organization for many years,” said Brant Wilson, senior vice president of franchise operations for TBC.

"He has led the team to growth in same store sales that Midas has enjoyed for the majority of the last three years and, most recently, has been a driving force in the Midas tires initiative to transform Midas into a tires and service destination.”

Mr. Gould, who relocated to TBC headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens in 2012, said, “Midas means a lot to me — more than people know. I'm appreciative to have been a part of the Midas family for so long and truly value the relationships that I have made over the years with members of the Midas family.”

Mr. Gould will work closely with Mr. Seagle through year-end to help the transition, TBC said.

Mr. Seagle is leaving Bridgestone after a 33-year career that started at the retail store manager level and progressed to district manager, national director of sales and operations and finally vice president of retail operations.

“I'm confident that Ron's background, industry knowledge and proven track record leading teams will be extremely valuable to Midas as we grow service offerings to continue exceeding the expectations of our customers and our franchisees,” Mr. Wilson said.

“He's up for the challenge and I know he will learn a lot while working with Mike over the next three months to assist with introducing him to the brand and operational initiatives and we're looking forward to having him operate with excellence to take Midas to the next level.”

Midas is considered one of the world's largest providers of automotive services with more than 2,100 franchised, licensed and company-owned Midas shops in 13 countries, including nearly 1,300 in the U.S. and Canada, TBC said. Midas also owns the SpeeDee Oil Change business, with 115 auto service centers in the U.S. and Mexico.

Mr. Gould's retirement coincides the retirement of another TBC franchise organization executive, Kevin Kormondy, executive vice president and chief operating officer of TBC's Big O Tires L.L.C. unit. He's retiring at the end of October after 20 years with the organization.

TBC named John Kairys, Carroll Tire Co. executive vice president and general manager since April 2014, to succeed Mr. Kormondy.