Subaru president Jay Peck dies

Jay Peck, president of Subaru Industrial Power Products in the US died on August 10 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 59.

Speaking on behalf of the company Subaru vice-president of sales and marketing, Brad Murphy said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jay. This is a tragedy beyond measure, not just for us here at Subaru, but for our entire industry. We've lost more than a leader, colleague and visionary. We've lost a friend."

Mr Peck began his career in the industry while attending college at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, spending his summers working for Teledyne Total Power's (TTP) Power Center outlet store in New Berlin, Wisconsin. At the time, TTP had recently purchased Wisconsin Motors and Continental Motors, based in Milwaukee. After graduating UW with a degree in Business Management, Peck joined the company full time as the Power Center's branch manager.

In 1985 at the age of 34, Mr Peck became the youngest vice-president in Teledyne's history when he was named vice-president of distribution, a move that took him to TTP's new headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. He was promoted to vice-president of sales and marketing in 1988, and assumed the responsibility for the sale of Robin engines, which were being marketed in North America under the Wisconsin Robin brand as part of an agreement with Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries.

Mr Peck left TTP in 1991 and in 1993 joined Fuji's subsidiary Robin America as vice-president of sales and marketing. He became president of the company, which now operates under the Subaru brand, in 1996.

While he was revered in the industry as an accomplished and admired businessman, Peck was a devoted family man too. He married his wife Lynn in 1973, and together they have three children, Jenny, Jonathan and Jessie.

Donations in Mr Peck's name can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. This US organisation works to create hope for pancreatic cancer patients through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure. Donations can be made by clicking here.