American Seating, the North American leader of transportation seating products, announces that longtime CEO and Chairman of the Board Edward Clark is shifting to the chairman role.
President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Bush has been appointed CEO. Bush has been with American Seating for 29 years and served as the chief financial officer before being named president in 2007.
As chairman, Clark will continue to lead American Seating’s board of directors; as president and CEO, Bush will serve on the board, lead the company’s development of short- and long-term strategies, and manage the company’s overall resources and operations.
Clark led a group of private investors to purchase American Seating from Atlanta-based Fuqua Inc. in 1987, bringing ownership of the longtime Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company back to the region after several years under Fuqua. Founded in 1886, American Seating always has maintained manufacturing operations in Grand Rapids. Corporate headquarters has been on the same campus on the northwest side of the city for most of the company’s existence.
Commitment to community
A major reinvestment and renovation of the American Seating campus occurred in 2003. Historic buildings were preserved and repurposed, while modern living and working environments were created. The area became known as American Seating Park.
“The development represented a commitment to our employees as well as to our community. Many options were explored, but, after careful consideration, we decided at that time to remain on the west side of Grand Rapids,” Clark said in a statement.
For nearly 35 years, Clark has been instrumental in keeping the company in West Michigan and with a UAW union workforce.
Over the years, American Seating’s architectural environments and transportation seating business lines expanded. In 2017, the company made a strategic decision to divest the architectural environments business and concentrate all resources on transportation.
Transportation seating focus
Today, American Seating focuses solely on seating and securement solutions for the transportation industry.
“The company has gained strong momentum in our transportation seating business and is benefiting from the ability to focus our time, resources and talent in this market,” Bush said in a statement. “We’re excited to carry on the more than 100-year history of American Seating as a global leader in seating.”
Roughly 75% of city-transit buses in the United States have American Seating seats and related products. Rail and motorcoach providers also rely on American Seating solutions. The company has always manufactured products with materials predominately sourced in the USA and manufactured in Grand Rapids.
“During his tenure as CEO, Ed has led American Seating with a strong focus on innovation and a commitment to our employees, customers and the city of Grand Rapids,” Bush said. “I am proud to succeed him in this role, and we are all grateful for and proud of his leadership.”
