David Wathen

David Wathen has been President and Chief Executive Officer of TriMas Corporation since January 2009. He has more than three decades of industrial and manufacturing experience, having served in leadership positions at several premier industrial companies, including Eaton Corporation as Group Executive of a large free-standing subsidiary; Allied Signal Corporation as President of the Frictions Materials Division; Emerson Electric Company as President of its U.S. Electrical Motors Division; and General Electric Company, where he held a variety of managerial positions. He has also worked as a General Partner and Principal at Questor Management Company, a private equity and consulting firm. Mr. Wathen began his career in 1977 at General Electric Company, where he served in various capacities for 12 years, including several leadership roles. He obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Saint Francis and a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. He joined the Franklin Electric board of directors in 2005 and continues serving. He has broad experience serving on compensation, governance and audit committees.