Skip to main content
C
CorpDigest
Search

Genuine Parts Company

Automotive and Industrial Parts DistributionFounded 1928
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Leadership History

Genuine Parts: CEO History

4 leaders · 2004 to present

Who is the CEO of Genuine Parts?

Will Stengel is the CEO of Genuine Parts, in the role since 2024. The first chief executive was Tom Gallagher, from 2004.

Current CEO
Will Stengel (since 2024)
First CEO
Tom Gallagher (2004)
Leaders documented
4
Founded
1928
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Court CarruthersCEO-elect of Genuine Parts Company (automotive business)2026Present< 1
Will StengelChairman and Chief Executive Officer (to become Chairman and CEO of Motion after the separation)2024Present2
Paul DonahueFormer Chairman and CEO201620248
Tom GallagherFormer Chairman and CEO2004201612

Company Overview

Genuine Parts Company (GPC), based in Atlanta, owns and operates NAPA Auto Parts. It runs the distribution network that supplies replacement parts to thousands of local mechanics, keeping an aging fleet of American cars and industrial trucks on the road. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Court Carruthers

CEO-elect of Genuine Parts Company (automotive business)

2026 – Present

0 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

A GPC board member, Carruthers was appointed CEO-elect in September 2026, effective immediately, and is set to become CEO of the automotive company when the separation closes, targeted for Q1 2027. A Form 8-K disclosed a $1.0 million base salary as CEO-elect, rising to $1.2 million as CEO.

Legacy

He will lead the post-separation GPC, which keeps NAPA in North America, Alliance Automotive Group in Europe and Repco in Australasia.

Source →

Will Stengel

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (to become Chairman and CEO of Motion after the separation)

2024 – Present

2 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Will Stengel joined GPC in 2019, initially serving as the company's very first Chief Transformation Officer before rapidly ascending to the role of President and ultimately being appointed CEO in June 2024. His primary mandate was to modernize the company's legacy operational infrastructure and implement data-driven strategic initiatives across the global distribution network. His most consequential decision to date was announced in February 2026: the historic strategic separation of GPC's automotive and industrial segments into two independent, publicly traded corporations.

Legacy

Stengel represents a new, dynamic era of leadership for the century-old distribution giant. His willingness to dismantle the conglomerate structure that had defined the company for decades demonstrates a pragmatic, aggressive commitment to unlocking shareholder value and increasing operational focus. By splitting the NAPA and Motion businesses, he aims to ensure that both entities can independently pursue specialized growth strategies and distinct capital allocation priorities in their respective global markets.

Source →

Paul Donahue

Former Chairman and CEO

2016 – 2024

8 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Serving as CEO from 2016 to 2024, Paul Donahue initiated an essential process of corporate streamlining and portfolio rationalization. Recognizing that the company was spread too thin across disparate distribution markets, he executed the divestiture of several non-core legacy businesses, most notably the S.P. Richards office products division and the electrical specialty distribution segments. This strategic contraction allowed management to redirect significant capital and operational focus entirely toward the core automotive and industrial parts businesses.

Legacy

Donahue provided crucial, steady leadership during a period of necessary structural transition, modernizing the company's portfolio to adapt to changing macroeconomic conditions. His disciplined divestitures simplified the corporate structure, fortified the balance sheet, and ultimately laid the essential strategic groundwork that made his successor's plan to split the remaining automotive and industrial businesses viable.

Source →

Tom Gallagher

Former Chairman and CEO

2004 – 2016

12 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Tom Gallagher served an impressive half-century tenure with Genuine Parts Company, including twelve years as chief executive. During his time as CEO, he oversaw international expansion, acquiring numerous overseas distribution networks and effectively transforming GPC from a primarily North American operator into a truly global supply chain leader. He defended the company's well-known, unbroken record of annual dividend increases, prioritizing steady, reliable shareholder returns over risky, speculative expansion. He also spearheaded significant investments in digital inventory management systems, recognizing early on that technological superiority in logistics was essential to maintaining the company's competitive edge in an increasingly consolidated market.

Legacy

Gallagher is a revered figure in the company's history, representing the steady, reliable, blue-collar ethos that defined GPC for decades. His successful international acquisitions provided critical new revenue streams as domestic growth slowed. His conservative, disciplined financial management ensured the company's survival and continued profitability during the severe economic contraction of the 2008 global financial crisis.

Source →

Challenges & Strategic Context

Genuine Parts Company's most pressing challenge is the dramatic collapse in reported profitability due to legacy liabilities and macroeconomic headwinds. The First Brands bankruptcy exposes vulnerability in supplier concentration: when a key vendor fails, GPC faces not only lost supply but also uncollectible receivables and rebates. The planned separation into two independent companies by Q1 2027 introduces execution risk. The macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, with tariffs, trade policy, interest rates, and consumer confidence all presenting risks.

Genuine Parts CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who have been the primary Chief Executive Officers of Genuine Parts Company in modern history?

Notable CEOs in GPC's modern history include Wilton Looney (well-known leader who guided GPC from 1955 to 1989), Larry Prince (1989-2004), Thomas Gallagher (2004-2016), Paul Donahue (2016-2024), and Will Stengel (2024-present).

What major corporate transformations were achieved under Paul Donahue's tenure as CEO?

Paul Donahue transformed GPC into a truly global distribution leader by executing the landmark $2 billion acquisition of Alliance Automotive Group in Europe (2017), acquiring Kaman Distribution Group for Motion (2022), divesting non-core office supply businesses (S.P. Richards), and driving annual revenues past $23 billion.

How did Wilton Looney shape the foundational growth and culture of Genuine Parts Company?

Wilton Looney led GPC for over three decades, establishing the decentralized management culture, well-known customer service standards, strict financial discipline, and initiating the company's leading streak of annual dividend increases that made GPC a Dividend King.

What background and leadership experience does Will Stengel bring as CEO of GPC?

Will Stengel joined GPC in 2019 as Chief Transformation Officer, later serving as President and Chief Operating Officer before becoming CEO in 2024. Stengel brings extensive leadership experience in corporate strategy, supply chain optimization, and digital technology integration.

How did Thomas Gallagher expand GPC's industrial and automotive operations during his CEO tenure?

Tom Gallagher (CEO from 2004 to 2016) strengthened GPC's North American footprint, guided the company through the 2008-2009 Great Recession with positive cash flow, and initiated international expansion into Australasia with the 2013 acquisition of GPC Asia Pacific (Repco).

What executive compensation metrics guide Genuine Parts Company's leadership team?

GPC ties executive compensation to revenue growth, adjusted operating profit margin expansion, return on invested capital (ROIC), cash flow generation, and total shareholder return (TSR) relative to the S&P 500 and peer distribution indices.

How does GPC's executive leadership approach talent development and internal promotion?

GPC maintains a promote-from-within culture where many branch managers, distribution center executives, and corporate vice presidents began their careers working in local NAPA stores or Motion industrial branches.

What strategic priorities has Will Stengel outlined for the future of Genuine Parts Company?

Will Stengel's strategic roadmap focuses on accelerating supply chain automation, modernizing global digital omni-channel capabilities, expanding international European scale, deepening high-margin private label penetration, and continuing disciplined capital deployment.

Who is the CEO of Genuine Parts?

Paul Donahue serves as CEO. Taking over in 2016, he recognized that the American auto parts market was becoming massively saturated. He aggressively shifted the company's growth strategy internationally, executing massive acquisitions to expand the NAPA brand into Europe and Australia.

Related Leadership Timelines

Compare executive leadership tenures and strategic transitions

Competitor

Autozone

View Leadership Timelines
Competitor

Advance Auto Parts

View Leadership Timelines
Competitor

Oreilly Auto

View Leadership Timelines
Competitor

Lkq

View Leadership Timelines

Explore Genuine Parts

Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.