J. Scot Sharland is the executive director of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), joining the organization in September 2005. Sharland is leading AIAG’s collaborative industry initiatives to reduce cost and complexity; improve quality, health safety and the environment; and increase speed to market within the automotive supply chain.

Previously, Sharland was managing director for Grote & Hartmann GmbH in Germany, a European electrical connector company (now part of Lear Corp.). Here he succeeded in establishing the start-up of its North American operations and securing a multiyear contract manufacturing agreement with an Asian company for Lear.

Prior to joining Grote & Hartmann, he was managing director of Framatome Connectors International’s business start-up in North America where he gained substantial experience in global operations.

For four years, Sharland was vice president of marketing and sales for American Team, Inc., a custom molding business providing design, prototype, tooling, molding, decoration and assembly of plastic parts and components to automotive OEM and supplier customers. In this position, he negotiated a successful tooling joint venture and a collaborative manufacturing agreement with international companies.

At the General Electric Company, Sharland spent 13 years serving in various marketing, sales and management positions of increasing responsibilities in the company’s specialty materials business serving both OEM and supplier clients via various channel to markets.

Sharland is a graduate of Syracuse University in New York.