Harley-Davidson CEO Jim Ziemer to retire in 2009
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Harley-Davidson Inc. said Monday its president and chief executive, Jim Ziemer, plans to retire next year, ending his 40-year career with the company.
The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker said in a news release the 58-year-old Ziemer told the board of directors Monday that he intends to retire in 2009, staying on until a new CEO is named. The board has formed a search committee to find a successor.
Ziemer is a native of Milwaukee and grew up in the neighborhood next to the company’s original factory in the city. He started working for Harley in 1969 as a freight elevator operator while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. When he graduated he joined the company’s accounting department and worked there much of his career. He was named financial chief in 1990 and president and CEO in 2005.
Board Chairman Jeffrey L. Bleustein called Ziemer an advocate for the 105-year-old company in a statement and said Ziemer was a lifelong motorcyclist who “exemplifies the great legacy and spirit of Harley-Davidson.”
Ziemer said working at Harley fulfilled a lifelong dream, and he looked forward to spending more time with his family.
Ziemer’s departure comes as the venerable motorcycle maker is seeing sales slip as consumers around the world pull on their spending amid worries about a weakening economy. Analysts say the company is also facing weakness due to its aging customer base, who may not be as apt to keep riding and buying new bikes.
Dec 16, 2008 at 7:29 p.m.
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No, I worked for them when Bleustein was running the show. He did a very good job. I still have friends that work for Harley and they have been less than impressed with Ziemer. I have just followed them since they were a former employer.
Dec 16, 2008 at 2:22 p.m.
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You are correct, but Honda also stated that it was due to bad economic times. They will still have two satellite teams, but the factory team is gone. They have been getting their butts kicked. Luckily, Daytona motorsports group met some of the teams needs, otherwise very few factory teams would have been in roadracing. It's got a long ways to go yet, but it can't get any worse than what the AMA did to it.
Dec 16, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
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Honda's factory racing team is not showing is in part due to AMA races being sold out daytona motorsports group, in other words nascar. There will be some big changes ahead in what we used to know as US AMA racing, probably not for the better.
Back on topic, its a pretty good time to retire anyways. HD is going to have to make some drastic changes to be competitive in a hard market.
Dec 16, 2008 at 1:13 p.m.
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Honda is in worse trouble that Harley. They are no longer roadracing in the U.S. next year do to "economic hardship".
Dec 16, 2008 at 1:06 p.m.
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Gotta love the speculation in the comments....forced resignation? Hmmmm 40 years with a company - maybe he just wants to RETIRE. Honda acquiring Harley? - again - speculation. Ignorance is bliss though and we are all entitled to our opinions right? Sign me - A big fan of HD.
Dec 16, 2008 at 10:36 a.m.
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Sounds like thediplomat might've lost a little money in Harley?
Dec 16, 2008 at 10:24 a.m.
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Ah, look at the stock history. It was going down before the economy took a dive.
Dec 16, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
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diplomat - Ummm...I think it's pretty obvious that due to the way the economy is, people aren't going to run out and buy $15,000-$20,000 motorcycles right now. Do you know this for a fact or are you simply blaming him?
Dec 16, 2008 at 9:24 a.m.
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Let's call this what it really is...a forced resignation. He crippled the stock price. Way to go idiot.
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