Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., announced that David Szczupak will lead the company's newly named Global Product Organization effective immediately. Mr. Szczupak succeeds Mike Thieneman, who recently retired from the company.

In his role as executive vice president, Global Product Organization, Szczupak will provide overall leadership to Whirlpool Corporation's global product businesses and strategic sourcing.

"Dave has established himself as a global business leader with an impressive track record of significant, transformative improvements in leveraging scale while driving improvements in both productivity and product quality," said Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. "His experience will strengthen our ability to accelerate our improved product results and I'm confident he will provide tremendous leadership to the Global Product Organization."

Szczupak joins Whirlpool after serving as chief operating officer of Dura Automotive Systems in Rochester Hills, Mich., a $2 billion, 15,000 employee international automotive supplier, where he provided strategic direction for product development, purchasing, manufacturing and quality. Prior to joining Dura, he worked for Ford Motor Company where he held several senior leadership positions, including group vice president of Manufacturing and vice president of Powertrain Operations. He also worked previously for Jaguar Cars in the United Kingdom.

Szczupak earned a master's degree in automotive engineering from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom.