TWG Expands Leadership Roles for Campbell, Hepp, Podlovits

The Wheel Group (TWG)—a designer, developer and owner of aftermarket wheel, tire, accessory and off-road brands—announced an expanded leadership structure focused on accelerating growth and strengthening its national accounts strategy.

The expanded roles bring together three experienced TWG leaders: Joe Podlovits, vice president of marketing & national accounts; Jill Hepp, director of marketing; and Brian Campbell, director of national accounts. This structure creates tighter alignment between TWG’s product and brand strategies, how programs are brought to market and the needs of its largest customers, company officials said in a press release.

“What’s exciting about this team is that we aren’t looking at national accounts as simply a sales channel,” said Podlovits. “We’re looking at the bigger picture. How do we bring the right products, positioning and programs together to help our customers sell more?”

Aligning Marketing & National Accounts

Podlovits brings 16 years with The Wheel Group and experience across multiple roles within the company, providing a broad understanding of TWG’s brands, products, customers and operations. In his expanded role, he will lead both marketing and national accounts.

“After 16 years at TWG, I’ve seen a lot of changes in this industry and inside our company,” Podlovits said. “Today, we have a more clearly defined portfolio of brands, a stronger product offering and more capabilities than we have ever had. The opportunity now is to connect those strengths in a much more strategic way for our national accounts customers and create programs that drive growth for both sides.”

Brian Campbell, director of national accounts, brings extensive automotive aftermarket and enthusiast-market experience along with years of working directly with aftermarket customers, the release noted. Since joining TWG, Campbell has developed strong customer relationships and helped build and execute programs focused on growth.

Jill Hepp, director of marketing, brings more than a decade of automotive aftermarket marketing experience. Her background includes brand strategy, product launches, dealer programs and integrated marketing. At TWG, she plays a key role connecting product development, sales, brand strategy and customer-facing initiatives, the company said.

“We have an incredible opportunity to think bigger about what marketing can do,” said Hepp. “We’re not just creating marketing to support sales; we are looking at how we can build complete programs that help our customers sell more, bringing together the right products, positioning, content, promotions and timing. When we are all working together from the beginning, we can create something much more powerful.”

Turning Products Into Programs

TWG plans to work more closely with key national account partners on new product introductions, merchandising, marketing support, promotions and inventory strategies. The goal is to use the breadth of TWG’s wheel, tire, off-road and accessory portfolio to build programs around the specific needs of each customer.

“At the end of the day, our customers want to grow,” Campbell said. “If we can help them sell more products, create excitement with their customers and make their businesses more successful, everybody wins. That’s the kind of partnership we are going after.”

TWG says the expanded leadership structure reflects its continued focus on growing its national account business and building partnerships that go beyond the traditional supplier relationship.

“This is about bringing together skill sets that complement each other and creating tighter alignment between marketing, product and national account management,” said Wade Kawasaki, CEO of The Wheel Group. “When those teams are working from the same playbook, we move faster, build stronger programs and create more value for our customers. That’s the TWG difference.”