KPR Performance Brakes has appointed Mark Joseph as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America, placing an executive with more than 30 years of automotive aftermarket experience in charge of the company’s push into the United States, Canada and Mexico. Joseph will develop the brand, distribution network and customer relationships across the region for KPR Performance Brakes, an Australian-owned company whose range covers performance brake rotors, brake pads, braided brake lines and brake upgrade systems. His background spans manufacturing, product development, sales, marketing, distribution and business management.
Highlights
- Role and territory: Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America, with responsibility for brand development, distribution and customer relationships across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- Industry tenure: More than 30 years in the automotive aftermarket, beginning with Disc Brakes Australia in 1992.
- Prior leadership: Sales & Marketing Director USA, General Manager DBA USA and CEO of DBA USA LLC, followed by Chief Operating Officer at Sparta Evolution.
- Product focus: Performance brake rotors, pads, braided brake lines and brake upgrade systems aimed at selected vehicle segments rather than full-line coverage.
Three Decades in Performance Braking
Joseph’s brake industry career began at Disc Brakes Australia in 1992, where he worked across manufacturing, engineering, quality, product development, operations, sales and marketing.
In 2005 he relocated from Australia to the United States and helped establish DBA’s North American operation. That work covered the company’s sales, marketing, warehousing and national distribution infrastructure, along with relationships with warehouse distributors, performance specialists, retailers and other industry partners across the region. He held senior leadership positions at the company including Sales & Marketing Director USA, General Manager DBA USA and CEO of DBA USA LLC.
He later joined U.S. performance brake manufacturer Sparta Evolution as Chief Operating Officer, adding experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, logistics, purchasing and product development.
“I am very pleased to be returning to the automotive aftermarket with KPR Performance Brakes,” said Joseph. “The brake market is highly competitive, but I believe there is always room for a company that offers the right products and supports them properly. We are not looking to be all things to all people or compete simply on price. Our focus will be on quality products, strong customer service, reliable inventory management and building long-term relationships with carefully selected distribution partners.”
What Will KPR Target in North America?
The company says its North American strategy will concentrate on selected performance, enthusiast, sport compact, truck, SUV and off-road applications rather than attempting to compete across every vehicle segment. KPR intends to work with distributors, performance specialists and aftermarket partners as it establishes that presence, and says it will draw on Joseph’s industry relationships to gather feedback from customers and distributors so its product range stays focused on applications with demand.
Joseph pointed to his earlier work building an Australian brake brand in the U.S. market as the basis for that approach.
“I learned a great deal from establishing and developing DBA in the U.S. market. North America is not a market where you can simply introduce a product and expect it to sell. You need the right applications, inventory, distribution partners, technical support and a genuine commitment to your customers. Those lessons will be very important as we develop KPR.”
“This is a new chapter,” Joseph added. “We respect the established brands already operating in this market. Our objective is to earn our position by providing good products, strong support and being easy to do business with.”
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