Gary Cohen, CEO, Qualitor Automotive

Gary Cohen is a global CEO and board director. He is currently CEO of Qualitor Automotive,  Inc., a Wellspring Capital Management portfolio company. Qualitor is a leading diversified supplier of aftermarket safety and wear parts for the automotive industry. Through five global locations and two business units, Qualitor provides wiper blades and auto care accessories  (Pylon) and brake hardware and related components (International Brake Industries) to the automotive aftermarket. Prior to Qualitor, Gary was President and CEO of Timex Group, a  global manufacturer of watches, where he made significant improvements in expanding revenues of key product lines. At Timex, he was responsible for the Timex brand as well as licensed brands including Versace, Ferragamo, Guess, and Ironman. 

Prior to joining Timex, Gary was Global VP/General Manager of Playtex, a business unit of  Energizer’s Personal Care division. Among his achievements at Playtex, he helped acquire the  Hawaiian Tropic sun care brand and expanded its distribution internationally. Gary joined  Playtex in 2006 as part of a turnaround team that sold the business to Energizer Holdings.  

Gary also held a succession of global marketing positions at P&G/The Gillette Company, each increasing in scale, scope of responsibility and complexity. By developing new products and focusing on transformational cost savings and productivity initiatives, he was able to deliver consistent profit growth in Gillette’s Oral-B and shaving businesses. 

Gary is a board director of Horizons National, a not-for-profit that delivers summer and after-school education and enrichment programs to low-income children across the country. He chairs the marketing communications committee and serves on the strategic planning and compensation committees. He is also a board advisor to PrideGear, a start-up that customizes athletic logo-wear for college and club sports teams. 

A native of Massachusetts, Gary graduated from Brandeis University and earned his MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Gary and his wife, Carolyn, have four daughters and reside in Westport, CT.