James L. Hebe, a renowned trucking industry figure who began his career with Navistar International Corp., has rejoined the company’s truck group as senior vice president of North American sales operations, it was announced Monday, April 14.
Hebe, 59, first joined Navistar in 1971 in Boston as a management trainee, and later became a heavy truck salesman for International trucks. He rejoins Navistar from his latest role as president and dealer principal of Co-Van/Cascadia International LLC.
In his new role, Hebe will have responsibility for North American sales, dealer operations and central sales administration. “The integration of these three functions is critical to achieve alignment in communication, planning and execution of both our short- and long-term strategies,” says David J. Johanneson, group vice president of global sales and marketing and distribution for Navistar’s truck group.
Hebe has served in a variety of roles in the trucking industry. He was chairman, president and chief executive officer of Freightliner for nine years. After leaving Freightliner in 2002, Hebe became head of Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC in Clintonville, Wis. He returned to the trucking industry in 2006 when he became dealer principal of Co-Van/Cascadia.
A member of both the Automotive Hall of Fame and the Automotive News Hall of Fame, Hebe will relocate to Warrenville, Ill., from his home in Portland, Ore.
