Each week, trucknews.com lists notable events, promotions and awards in the trucking industry.

This week, Denso has appointed Daisuke Yamaoka as president of Denso Products and Services Americas.

Wellington Group of Companies has appointed Shawn Backle as vice president of operations at Contract Express and the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada has appointed Mike Zelek to lead its membership committee, while Jackie Charles of Arrow Group of companies has joined Trucking HR Canada’s board of directors.

Corcentric has welcomed Mike Meehan to its team as vice president of Capital Equipment Solutions, and Kane Bender was appointed as director of service at Bosch Truck Group. And Bill Nolan, president and CEO of PBS Truck Parts and chairman of the board at Vipar Heavy Duty, has been inducted into the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Hall of Fame.

Wellington Group names operations VP at Contract Express

Wellington Group of Companies has appointed Shawn Backle as vice president of operations at Contract Express.

Backle brings more than 30 years of transportation industry experience to the role. Prior to joining Contract Express, he spent two decades with Transport N Service, where he contributed to the company’s growth and operational stability while helping foster a culture focused on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Arrow’s Charles joins THRC board of directors

Jackie Charles, Vancouver-based chief risk and information officer at Arrow Group of Companies has joined the Trucking HR Canada board of directors. She brings more than 20 years of trucking industry experience to the role, along with over 15 years of service on non-profit boards.

“Jackie’s long-standing commitment to the trucking industry and a strong belief in the importance of human resource leadership will make a significant contribution to THRC’s Board of Directors and their decision making,” says Angela Splinter, CEO, THRC. The organization’s 10-member board of directors is made up of leaders from across Canada who support the organization’s vision to grow a competitive and sustainable supply chain.

Zelek to lead PTTAC membership committee

The Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada has appointed Mike Zelek as chairman of its membership committee. Zelek is tasked with supporting the growth and development of PTTAC’s membership across Canada.

Zelek serves as sales manager for Ontario and Western Canada at DataDis and has a background in transportation leadership, including previous roles as a driver manager, recruiting and retention manager, director of human resources, and vice president of human resources. He was also named national recruiter of the year in 2021.

Yamaoka named president of Denso Products and Services Americas

Denso has appointed Daisuke Yamaoka as president of Denso Products and Services Americas placing him in charge of the company’s aftermarket products and services business across the Americas.

Based in Long Beach, Calif., Yamaoka now leads more than 550 employees across the organization’s automotive, commercial and industrial groups, including aftermarket parts and services, PowerEdge, automatic data capture, connected services, EdgeCool, MovinCool and robotics operations.

Yamaoka has nearly 30 years of experience within Denso’s original equipment and aftermarket sales and service operations. After graduating from Keio University in Japan in1998, he began his career in the company’s aftermarket sales office before moving into Toyota sales roles.

His career later took him to the U.S., where he spent four years in the Toyota sales group at Denso North American regional headquarters, and then back to Japan and on to Europe, working in the aftermarket sales group in the Netherlands. Most recently, he returned to Japan to continue in Denso’s aftermarket operations prior to this latest appointment.

Yamaoka succeeds Hirokatsu Yamashita, who has returned to Japan to lead Denso’s Automotive & Life Solutions Division after nearly seven years as president of Denso Products and Services Americas.

Meehan joins Corcentric as one of the VPs

Corcentric has welcomed Mike Meehan to its team as vice president of Capital Equipment Solutions.

Meehan brings more than 25 years of expertise to the new role. Prior to joining Corcentric, Meehan held senior management positions with transportation and fleet organizations, including Fleet Advantage, Ryder, and Element.

“Mike has a wealth of knowledge and experience and can tailor solutions that drive efficiency and reduce costs for our fleet clients,” said Pat Gaskins, senior vice-president of fleet solutions.

According to a news release, throughout his career, Meehan has built high-performing teams, led strategic business development initiatives, and cultivated lasting customer relationships that have driven multi-million-dollar growth in the financial sector.

Bender to lead Bosch Truck Group as director of service

Kane Bender was appointed as director of service at Bosch Truck Group, the company announced.

Bender brings more than 18 years of industry experience to the role, including seven years managing the company’s busiest service location, where he led a team of more than 30 technicians, according to a LinkedIn post. In that position, he supported small, medium, and large fleet customers across a wide range of trucks and equipment.

Nolan inducted into heavy duty aftermarket hall of fame

President and CEO of PBS Truck Parts and chairman of the board at Vipar Heavy Duty Bill Nolan has been inducted into the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Hall of Fame. The induction recognizes leaders whose work has advanced the industry.

Founded in 1952 as the Power Brake and Spring Company, the business was acquired by Nolan’s family in 1973. Nolan began working part time in a range of roles, from general labor and delivery driver, to counter salesperson. He became financial controller in 1984 and assumed the role of president in 1989, succeeding his father. Under his leadership, the company evolved into PBS Truck Parts and expanded to seven locations in Indiana and Michigan.

Nolan has served on the Vipar Heavy Duty board of directors since 1994 and as chairman since 2011. During that time, the organization grew through initiatives such as the acquisition of Power Heavy Duty, the opening of Global Parts Network, and expansion to more than 1,000 locations.