Affinia Group Inc., a global leader in the on- and off-highway replacement parts and service industry, has named 20-year aftermarket industry veteran Jeff Blocher brand manager for WIX Filtration.

“Jeff is a valuable addition to the WIX Filters brand marketing team,” said Dave McColley, vice president of marketing for WIX Filters. “WIX will benefit from the vast experience he brings to the position from his work at the customer level at auto parts stores and distribution centers, in various sales roles at WIX, and as a brand manager for our CARQUEST filter brand.”

Blocher began his career at WIX in 1996 as a district sales manager in Nashville. In 2000, he moved to WIX’s headquarters to join the CARQUEST Filters’ brand marketing team, where he quickly rose to the brand manager position, a post he held for five years. Blocher returned to the WIX sales force last year as a regional sales manager and brings a fresh perspective to the WIX brand manager position.

“Working hand-in-hand with the WIX sales team has given me the opportunity to recognize and understand the unique needs of our sales force,” said Blocher, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University. “As brand manager for WIX Filters I have a single priority, to provide our customers and sales staff with the brand support, marketing materials and promotions that will help them sell more filters.”

Blocher, who recently completed Leadership 2.0, The University of the Aftermarket’s executive leadership education program, began his aftermarket training in high school in his parents’ auto parts store, placing stock, delivering parts, working the counter and in the machine shop, and helping install business management software. He worked summers in a NAPA distribution center during college, and after graduation he worked for Precision U-Joints for two years as a NAPA district sales manager before attending law school.

Since 1939, WIX Filtration has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks and off-road equipment. WIX is the number one filter in NASCAR and an exclusive NASCAR Performance Product. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com.

Affinia Group Inc. is a global leader in the on and off highway replacement products and service industry. In North America the Affinia family of brands includes WIX® filters, Raybestos® brand brakes and AIMCO® brake products, and McQuay-Norris® and Spicer® chassis parts. South American and European brands include Nakata®, Urba® and Quinton Hazell®. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.