FORVIA’s Akim Khalef is Recognized as an Automotive News Rising Star
SEPTEMBER 8 – FORVIA’s Akim Khalef, Vice President of Purchasing for Interiors product lines in North America, has been named a 2025 Automotive News Rising Star. Akim and his co-honorees are featured in a special section in the September 8th issue of Automotive News.
The Rising Stars program honors U.S.-based auto executives, under the age of 45, on the manufacturing, supply, and mobility side of the auto industry who have the talent and dedication necessary to become industry leaders of tomorrow. Automotive News has published the list of the industry’s up and comers annually since 2014.
This year’s honorees come from 16 companies and a variety of disciplines — from executive management to purchasing, engineering, marketing and design.
In his role, Akim oversees all regional procurement activities, strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and risk management for the Interiors product lines. His priorities include balancing costs with quality, while managing geopolitical risks and the full value chain across a network of 340 suppliers. Akim played a critical role in the integration of HELLA by helping align regional procurement operations and successfully negotiating unified pricing structures and harmonized payment terms, unlocking cost savings and efficiencies in the process.
“The Rising Stars program recognizes automotive executives in middle and upper management who are destined to be industry superstars,” said KC Crain, publisher of Automotive News. “The best predictor of big personal success is enormous responsibility at a young age. When great potential is identified and rewarded early, the organization wins.”
The 2025 class of Automotive News Rising Stars emerged from a nomination and selection process. Complete profiles of all 17 Rising Stars are available at https://www.autonews.com/awards/rising-stars/2025/
Since 1925, Automotive News has been the primary source for news happening among automotive retailers, suppliers and manufacturers. Distinct from other publications in the field, Automotive News remains a fully subscriber-paid publication, a testament to the value it delivers to the reader. The award-winning weekly print edition, robust website, email newsletters and video broadcasts are backed by a global team of more than 55 editors and reporters.
About FORVIA
FORVIA, a global automotive technology supplier, comprises the complementary technology and industrial strengths of Faurecia and HELLA. With around 250 industrial sites and 78 R&D centers, over 150,000 people, including more than 15,000 R&D engineers across 40+ countries, FORVIA provides a unique and comprehensive approach to the automotive challenges of today and tomorrow. Composed of 6 business groups and a strong IP portfolio of over 13,000 patents, FORVIA is focused on becoming the preferred innovation and integration partner for OEMs worldwide. In 2024, the Group achieved a consolidated revenue of 27 billion euros. FORVIA SE is listed on the Euronext Paris market under the FRVIA mnemonic code and is a component of the CAC SBT 1.5° index. FORVIA aims to be a change maker committed to foreseeing and making the mobility transformation happen. www.forvia.com
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Misty Matthews
VP Communications & Public Affairs North America
+1 248 296 1112
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