Hide and Leather Industry Authority David Peters Establishes Advisory Services Business

Senior Executive With Demonstrated Success Leading Large, Medium, International and Domestic Operations to Advise and Assist Companies in the Global Leather Industry


WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI--(Marketwire - September 8, 2008) - In response to the rapid globalization of the hide and leather industry, David Peters today announced the creation of a new advisory services business serving the needs of companies across the leather supply chain.

In his 30-year career, Peters has developed deep functional and operational industry expertise, from raw material selection, sourcing, quality and logistics to process and inventory management. His meticulous and analytical approach to implementing these disciplines on behalf of clients complements his work with management teams in developing holistic strategies responsive to related business challenges.

"As the leather and hide industry has evolved, many players have struggled to identify their value proposition and key business drivers in the context of the increasingly complex global supply chain," said Peters. "Having held positions on both the buy side and supply side and spanning geographic, functional and operational responsibilities, my aim is to help companies devise and implement programs that best position them for long-term growth and market leadership."

Most recently, Peters was senior vice president Global Supply Chain & Business Development with GST Auto Leather, the world's #2 automotive leather operation that was recently acquired by Japan-based Advantage Partners. GST's customers include many of the world's major OEMs, notably Toyota and Honda. In this role, Peters was responsible for leading GST's transition from a regional based manufacturing leather business to a globally diverse operation. He led the team that was instrumental in identifying outsourcing opportunities, strategic partnerships and acquisition targets. These initiatives were all implemented and are today evident in Dominican Republic, Mexico, China and Argentina.

With his extensive experience in tanning, global sourcing and supply chain management, he established localized sourcing relationships in each of the areas that GST currently operates. The culmination of this strategy was the successful re-positioning and sale of the company in mid 2008.

Before GST, he held senior management positions with leading companies in the hide and leather industry, most notably with ConAgra Foods Inc., where he was a member of their Meat Division's executive management team having various responsibilities including their hide division.

Contact Information: CONTACT: David Peters 240-490-9007 DLPeters99@gmail.com MEDIA INQUIRIES: Jason Throckmorton 415-625-8555 throck@launchsquad.com