ONTARIO, Calif. — The Wheel Group (TWG) has hired auto aftermarket veteran Jill Hepp to be the firm's marketing manager, tasked with helping develop TWG's growing position in the automotive aftermarket and lead its growth across its multiple brands.
"Jill's deep breadth of experience in marketing positions at multiple leading companies and her professionalism makes her a valuable addition to The Wheel Group," TWG Executive Chairman Wade Kawasaki said.
"I look forward to her helping lead growth across our current group of dynamic and innovative brands as well as our future acquisitions as we continue to grow our portfolio of brands."
Ontario-based TWG is a manufacturer and distributor of automotive wheels, tires, off-road and overland parts and vehicle accessories, marketed under the multiple brands, including nine wheel brands, four-wheel accessory brands, two vehicle accessory brands and the Amp specialty off-road tire brand. It operates 20 sales and distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada.
Hepp most recently was senior director of marketing at Derive Systems, overseeing the Bully Dog and SCT performance-tuning brands. Before that she was director of marketing for ACCEL Performance Group and its family of brands, including Mr. Gasket, ACCEL, Mallory Ignition, Lakewood, QuickTime and Hays.
Kawasaki, CEO of Legendary Companies (Coker Tire Group) from 2014-21 and two-time chair of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (2009-2011 and 2015-2019), was named executive chairman of TWG in November 2022 after serving on the firm's board of directors.
In business since 1997, TWG was acquired in 2021 by private-equity firm Wynnchurch Capital L.P.
