On Thursday, Joe Gibbs Racing announced the addition of Michael Guttilla as the organization's new Chief Operating Officer. Guttilla's official start date is June 19, 2023.
According to a press release from the team, Guttilla has spent more than 35 years as an engineering executive in the automotive industry, including the last 24 years, where Guttilla served in several executive roles with Multimatic. Most recently, Guttilla served as Vice President of Engineering and R&D for Multimatic.
Guttilla will report directly to Joe Gibbs Racing President Dave Alpern, and will oversee several aspects of JGR's operations. According to Alpern, the decision to hire Guttilla was the result of a process that began in late 2022.
“We’re excited to welcome Michael into our Joe Gibbs Racing family,” said Alpern. “This was an exhaustive process that started toward the end of last season. We announced the hiring of our new Chief Commercial Officer, Eric Schaffer, just before the start of our season and Michael will be another key pillar in helping lead us into the future. To get a leader of Michael’s caliber will be a tremendous boost to our race team and the development of our people.”
Guttilla says due to his role within the automotive industry, he has always felt nothing but respect for the organization that Joe Gibbs and his team have built at Joe Gibbs Racing, and he's thankful for this opportunity.
“Like everyone involved in the automotive and motorsports industry, I’ve always admired Joe Gibbs Racing’s unparalleled success, humility and integrity,” said Guttilla. “JGR’s culture of putting people first, developing the best talent in the industry, and acting as one team in unison with their sponsors, partners, and community is even more impressive than all the resulting victories and championships, and why it is such an honor to now be a part of the Joe Gibbs Racing family. I am thankful to Coach (Gibbs), the Gibbs family, Dave (Alpern), and the leadership team for entrusting me with this opportunity to contribute to their winning heritage on and off the racetrack.”
Guttilla joins fellow new hire Eric Schaffer, who takes on the role of Chief Commercial Officer for the team.
The race team also promoted Toni Rogers to Chief People Officer, and she will oversee the team's newly re-envisioned human resources department.
“The Gibbs family has always said you win with people,” added Alpern. “Toni has been a tremendous asset to our race team for more than a decade now and she will play a key role in prioritizing our people and our culture.”
Previously, Rogers had held the position of Vice President of Human Resources. Rogers moved to the NASCAR division of JGR in 2013 after spending two years with the organization's motocross team.
Guttilla, Schaffer, and Rogers join Alpern and JGR CFO Tim Carmichael on the Joe Gibbs Racing leadership team.
Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett, LAT Images, Courtesy of Toyota Racing
