John Mendel elected chairman of LKQ Corporation board

ANTIOCH, Tenn. - LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ:LKQ), a $7.88 billion market cap automotive parts provider, announced Thursday that John Mendel has been elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains strong fundamentals with a healthy current ratio of 1.81, despite its stock trading near 52-week lows.

Mendel succeeds Guhan Subramanian, who is stepping down as Chairman this month and will retire from the board on January 1, 2026. Subramanian will remain on the board through the end of the year to support the transition process. This leadership transition comes at a crucial time, as InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock has experienced a challenging period, with a -24.53% return over the past year.

Mendel, who joined LKQ’s board in August 2018, brings over 45 years of automotive industry experience, having served as an executive with American Honda, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda America. He was Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor Company’s Automotive Division from 2004 until his retirement in 2017.

"I am incredibly excited to become Chairman and to work with the leadership team in new and creative ways to accelerate the execution of LKQ’s strategic priorities," Mendel said in the press release.

The company, which provides alternative and specialty parts for automobiles and other vehicles, stated that Mendel’s appointment resulted from ongoing efforts to enhance its corporate governance practices.

Justin Jude, LKQ’s CEO, expressed gratitude for Subramanian’s contributions and noted that bringing in fresh perspectives would position the company for sustained growth.

Subramanian commented: "Serving on the Board of LKQ, as we have built this business over the past decade, has been an honor."

LKQ Corporation operates in North America, Europe and Taiwan, offering OEM recycled and aftermarket parts, replacement systems, and services for automobiles, trucks, and recreational vehicles. The company generates annual revenue of $14.05 billion and offers shareholders a 3.92% dividend yield. For detailed analysis and additional insights, investors can access comprehensive research reports on InvestingPro, which features over 30 key financial metrics and exclusive ProTips for LKQ Corporation.

In other recent news, LKQ Corporation reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.87. This figure fell short of the anticipated $0.92, marking a negative surprise of 5.43%. However, the company slightly exceeded revenue expectations, reporting $3.64 billion compared to the projected $3.62 billion. Despite this revenue beat, the market reacted negatively to the earnings miss. Raymond James has subsequently lowered its price target for LKQ to $40 from $50, though it maintained an Outperform rating. The reduction in the price target was attributed to soft market conditions and operational challenges in Europe. These developments have contributed to investor concerns about the company’s performance.

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