Valdes to lead Brunswick Boat Group’s Brazil effort
As managing director, Valdes will oversee construction of new production facility.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Brunswick Boat Group, a unit of Brunswick Corporation today announced that Jorge Valdes has been named managing director – Brazil operations, effective immediately. Brunswick recently committed to building a boat manufacturing plant in Brazil to serve South America’s largest country and the surrounding region.
In this new role, Valdes will be responsible for all Boat Group activities in Brazil, including developing a local dealer distribution network, overseeing construction of the new boat production facility, staffing the new business, and launching models into production.
The new boat manufacturing plant is to be located in the Perini Industrial Park in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and is planned to have nearly 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space. It will eventually employ up to 150 people to produce several Bayliner and Sea Ray sport boats and cruisers, which will be sold through a network of local dealers along with other Brunswick boat brands and models.
Brunswick plans to have locally manufactured product available in advance of the 2012 summer boating season. When in full operation, the plant is expected to have the capacity to produce more than 400 boats annually.
Valdes will report jointly to Terry McNew, executive vice president – manufacturing, quality and PD&E for Recreational boats, and Bill Gress, vice president and president – Brunswick Latin America Group.
Valdes has served in positions of increasing responsibility since joining Brunswick as a sourcing commodity manager in 2003, with his most recent assignment being country manager for the southern cone. Prior to joining Brunswick, Valdes held black belt and sourcing leader positions in Latin America for GE Medical Systems and GE Lighting. He holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a MBA from a joint program between the University of North Carolina and Mexico’s Monterrey Tech.
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