BRP appoints 17-year veteran Alain Villemure as vicepresident and general manager of its Outboard Engine division. As such, he will be responsible for all outboard engine-related activities including product development, manufacturing operations as well as North American sales, marketing and after-sales.
Villemure is currently leading the Vehicle Development and Manufacturing Operations division that includes all vehicle-related development, manufacturing operations and supply chain management of Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo PWC and boats as well as Can-Am ATVs, side-by-side vehicles and roadsters. This nomination comes into effect September 4, 2012.
"The Evinrude brand has been and continues to be a great contributor to BRP’s success," said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. "With Alain at the lead of this new division and with the investments we made last year to integrate product development and manufacturing under one roof, we are well positioned to bring the brand to another level and continue to enhance consumer experience."
Since acquiring the Evinrude brand in 2001, BRP has revolutionized two-stroke technology with the introduction of E-TEC technology in 2003. In 2004, BRP became the first marine engine manufacturer to receive a Clean Air Technology Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its environmentally friendly Evinrude E-TEC engines. In 2009, E-TEC technology was adapted for snowmobile engines, producing some of the most fuel-efficient engines in the industry.
Last year, BRP announced a $15M investment to consolidate outboard engine development and operations in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, to create the heart of the Evinrude brand. Regrouping these operations–everything from R&D and production to North American sales, marketing and after sales–under the same division creates greater focus and synergies between different but complementary business processes.
"When I was vice-president and general manager of the Sea-Doo/Ski-Doo division, I really enjoyed working directly with the distribution network," said Alain. "I look forward to joining our team in Sturtevant and developing a close relationship with the network so that together we can raise the Evinrude consumer experience ever higher."
BRP’s Spruce Pine, North Carolina lost-foam casting facility and the Stuart, Florida test centre also become part of this new division.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries. BRP employs more than 6,000 people worldwide.
