William (BJ) Kroppe is Vice President of Global Advanced Manufacturing, where he guides Neapco’s global capital expenditure and manufacturing footprint strategy. A 35-year industry veteran, BJ first joined Neapco in 2021 as an independent consultant, leading merger and acquisition initiatives and supporting the company’s EPT in-wheel motor project. He subsequently transitioned to the Global Operations organization and his current role in 2023.
Prior to joining Neapco, BJ served as President of Wilmarco Technologies, a Detroit-based industrial solutions company. He has also worked at Wabash National Corporation, Dana Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and others in a range of leadership positions focused on manufacturing, engineering, and general business management. He has previously held full financial responsibility for businesses with more than $200m in revenue, producing highly engineered products with substantial capital investment requirements.
A University of Michigan alumnus, BJ holds multiple degrees from the school, including a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He holds five U.S. patents and has been published in the Society of Automotive Engineers.
BJ has lived in Australia, Germany, and several U.S. cities. He currently resides in the metro Detroit area. Away from work, he enjoys cycling, swimming, investing, cooking, and reading. He also enjoys traveling to hike the Rockies and Alps and visiting his two adult children on the East Coast.