DENSO, a leading global mobility supplier, has announced the appointment of Kim Buhl as the Vice President of its North America Purchasing Group, effective July 24. Buhl will succeed Mike Winkler, who is set to retire in January 2024 after more than 30 years of service at DENSO.
In her new role, Buhl will be responsible for leading the North America purchasing initiatives from DENSO’s regional headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. Her primary focus will be on strengthening and enhancing DENSO’s supply chain, collaborating with suppliers and customers to deliver top-quality products and value, and working closely with a dedicated team committed to advancing DENSO’s mission of contributing to a better world.
DENSO is a leading global mobility supplier headquartered in Kariya, Japan, with a strong presence in North America. With a focus on manufacturing cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal, and mobility electronics products, DENSO invests in around 200 facilities worldwide. The company’s 165,000 employees are committed to creating a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, DENSO spent approximately 9.0 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development.
Expressing her excitement about joining DENSO, Buhl stated, “DENSO is clearly a purpose-driven company, with a strong reputation for quality and excellence in manufacturing. I’m looking forward to becoming part of a North American team dedicated to transforming mobility for all.”
Buhl brings with her a wealth of experience in global purchasing, production control, and logistics. Prior to joining DENSO, she served as the Vice President of Purchasing, SQ&A at Fisker Group. Buhl began her career at General Motors, where she held various positions in multiple purchasing areas, including engineering prototype materials and axles, components, and information systems and services. She then moved on to American Axle & Manufacturing, where she served in several director roles. Following that, she held executive positions at Magna Powertrain, Shiloh Industries, and Karma Automotive.
DENSO’s CEO of North American operations and a senior director of DENSO Corporation, Seiji Maeda, expressed his confidence in Buhl’s abilities, stating, “We are fortunate to welcome Kim to the DENSO team. Her extensive experience in the auto industry, as well as with start-up companies, will help DENSO transition to the future of mobility and achieve our Two Great Causes of Green and Peace of Mind.”
Maeda also acknowledged the significant contributions made by Mike Winkler during his tenure as the leader of the North America Purchasing Group. He praised Winkler’s guidance through challenging times, such as the global pandemic and semiconductor shortages, and commended his leadership example within the organization.
In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs over 27,000 engineers, researchers, and skilled workers across nearly 50 sites in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, DENSO in North America generated $11.3 billion in consolidated sales. The company is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, which fosters innovation and drives DENSO forward. For more information about DENSO’s operations in the region and career opportunities, visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/.
