Leadership Spotlight: Q&A with Greg Vyletel

Greg VyletelGreg Vyletel is Director, Global Aftermarket Engineering – Braking for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. Federal-Mogul Motorparts manufactures and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than 20 of the world’s most recognized brands in the global automotive aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with products including braking, chassis and windshield wiper applications. In the following Q&A, Greg shares with us his valuable insights on the topics of leadership and success.

TBR: What is your current role and area of responsibility?

GV: In my current role, I am responsible for Aftermarket Product Engineering and Application Engineering for Federal-Mogul Motorparts Braking group. I also lead the Product Engineering activity for the Braking group’s commercial vehicle segment.

TBR: How would you describe your leadership style and why has it worked so well for you?

GV: I view myself as an enabler. I’ll be the first to admit that I do not have all the answers. I set a direction and then give people the freedom to explore as long as the net vector is headed in the desired direction. If needed, and data suggests, we sometimes need a course correction. I am aware that this leadership philosophy needs an open and trustful work environment. Fortunately we have such within the company. I find when you treat people with respect and allow them space to be creative; you generate a high performance workspace.

TBR: What do you see as your biggest challenge right now?

GV: The biggest challenge is developing innovative and differentiated brake friction products in an extremely competitive, cost-conscious market without compromising safety or performance.

TBR: What do you look for when evaluating top talent?

GV: I look for enthusiastic, confident (without being arrogant) and self-motivated people. These traits tend to produce solid goal-oriented employees.

TBR: What was your first job in Industry?

GV: I started my career at Ford Motor Company working on friction in the Advanced Vehicle Technologies Group.

TBR: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself at age 20?

GV: That’s a tough question! Seeing both my daughters play NCAA volleyball, I wish I would have attempted to play collegiate golf. In addition to the classroom studies, they are gaining valuable skills that will translate to their professional careers once they graduate.

TBR: Name your favorite / recent book(s) you have read:

GV: Management book: “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and Recent book: “Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus” by Kyle Idleman

TBR: What is your favorite quote and why?

GV: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6, Holy Bible, New International Version

This passage sits in a note card holder under my computer monitor. My faith is important to me and it helps ground me in what is truly important as challenges come across my desk.

TBR: What has been the biggest contributor to your success at this point?

GV: I think the biggest contributor to my success has been keeping things simple! I frequently say “There is elegance in simplicity!” I like to break down the complex into simplistic items and then solve the simple items; the want-to-be-scientist that keeps rearing its head!

TBR: Tell us a something that most people might not know about you or your organization.

GV: My wife and I have developed into avid volleyball fans. Having two of our three children playing collegiately has us traveling around the Midwest nearly every weekend during the fall season. Additionally, my passion for nature photography has morphed into sports photography and I act as the teams’ photographer during the games we attend. We actively support the mission of Hillsdale College along with numerous other Christian and charitable causes.


About Federal-Mogul Motorparts

Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, Federal-Mogul Motorparts offers and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than 20 of the world’s most recognized brands in the global automotive aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with products including braking, chassis and windshield wiper applications.

Our leading light vehicle aftermarket brands include ANCO® wiper blades; Champion® spark plugs, wipers and filters; Fel-Pro® gaskets; Ferodo® brakes; MOOG® steering and suspension; Wagner® brake and lighting; Sealed Power® engine systems and Speed-Pro® performance engine systems. Commercial Vehicle aftermarket brands include Abex® brake products, FP Diesel® engine and sealing components and National® oil seals and bearings.

No other parts manufacturer matches Federal-Mogul Motorparts’ portfolio of power brands in terms of reputation and loyalty among customers in North America and around the world. Our replacement parts are used in underhood, undercar and other applications in millions of cars, light trucks and commercial vehicles on every continent.

Federal-Mogul Motorparts is a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation. For more than a century, Federal-Mogul has developed the innovative products customers need to produce the next generation of vehicles.

The Brake Report
The Brake Report

The BRAKE Report is an online media platform dedicated to the automotive and commercial vehicle brake segments. Our mission is to provide the global brake community with the latest news & headlines from around the industry.