Omni United hires ex-Cooper exec Caris

SINGAPORE — International tire distributor Omni United (S) Pte. Ltd. has hired former Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. executive Phillip Caris to be executive director of its U.S. businesses, effective immediately.

Mr. Caris — who retired from Cooper in 2015 after a 32-year career — will be responsible for Omni United's U.S. operations, which include private brand tire and wholesale tire distribution activities.

"In the coming years we are looking to build a multi-brand global distribution business, and we will be aggressive in acquiring more companies both in and outside the U.S.," said GS Sareen, founder and CEO of Singapore-based Omni United.

"I am sure Phil's wealth of experience and knowledge will play a pivotal role in strategically growing the U.S. business;…his joining us is a great endorsement to our business vision and strategy."

Mr. Caris said he is looking "forward to working with a highly driven, passionate and aggressive team at Omni" and is looking forward to contributing to Omni's growth story.

Omni United said Mr. Caris' appointment will play a pivotal role in growing the firm's distribution business while also catering to the interests of its existing distribution customers. His key areas of focus will include acquiring new companies and consolidating Omni's U.S. businesses.

Omni United expanded its U.S. business measurably in 2015-16 with the acquisitions of wholesalers Interstate Tire Distributor of Commerce, Calif., and A to Z Tire & Battery Inc. of Amarillo, Texas.

Those deals helped build the distributor's footprint in the U.S. to 24 warehouses with a total capacity of close to 1 million square feet, serving a network of more than 10,000 dealers spanning eight states within the west and south regions.

Omni United's private brand business in North America comprises the Patriot, Radar, Roadlux and Timberland brands. Omni United USA is headquartered in Interlochen, Mich.

Mr. Caris retired from Cooper in 2015 as vice president sales, North America. Other key positions he's held during his tenure with Cooper include vice president marketing, director marketing, director sales and marketing for Europe operations, director of strategic marketing.

He also served on the boards of directors for Cooper-Avon Tyres, Mickey Thompson Tires and Cooper de Mexico's operations.

After retiring from Cooper, he founded PCLM Consulting Services in Findlay, Ohio.

This is Omni United's second executive hiring in the past year related to its expanding U.S. business. Last May the company hired former Michelin North America Inc. executive Brett Martin to be president of the U.S. distribution division, known as "Omnisource."