Motion Industries CEO Tim Breen Dies Suddenly

Aug. 21, 2018
Breen led Motion Industries, part of Genuine Parts Co., as president and CEO since 2014, a time that saw the company surpass its $5 billion revenue goal at the

Motion Industries today announced that its President and Chief Executive Tim Breen died Saturday. Breen led Motion Industries, part of Genuine Parts Co., as president and CEO since 2014, a time that saw the company surpass its $5 billion revenue goal at the end of 2017.

An obituary on Dignity Memorial said Breen, 58, had been fighting cancer.

"Motion Industries has lost a great leader and the world has lost an amazing human being," said Motion Industries Leadership. "Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Tim have lost a dear friend and an inspiration. Tim leaves behind a great company, a great culture and a great team that he affectionately referred to as 'The Motion Family.' His spirit will forever live on at Motion."

Breen began his career with Berry Bearing Company in 1982 and served there as a sales representative, branch manager, regional manager, and corporate accounts manager before Motion Industries acquired the company in 1993, after which his responsibilities continued to grow.

He assumed responsibility of all the U.S. locations in 2011 as executive vice president and chief operating officer and became president and COO in 2013.

Motion Industries Leadership added, "We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved, growing the company he led and appreciating the team he loved so much. Tim's guidance and vision have left us in a strong position to continue building the Company's success."

The obituary also said Breen was a past president of the Bearing Specialist Association (BSA), was involved in numerous committees including the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), and was on the board of Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham.