Safelite

Safelite Group, Inc. is an American provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement, and calibration services and insurance claims management company, based in Columbus, Ohio.

Safelite Group, Inc.
TypePrivately held company
IndustryAutomotive glass and insurance claims management
Founded1947 (1947) in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
FoundersBud Glassman and Art Lankin
Headquarters
Columbus, Ohio
,
U.S.
Number of locations
720+
Area served
North America
Key people
Renee Cacchillo, president & CEO
Tim Spencer, SVP & CFO
Steve Miggo, EVP, Safelite AutoGlass
Renee Cacchillo, EVP, Customer Experience Officer
Ryan Trierweiler, EVP, People & Leadership
Cindy Elliott, SVP & General Counsel
ProductsWindshields
Door Glass
Back Glass
Auto Glass
Windshield Wipers
Glass Cleaner
ServicesAutomobile glass repair
Number of employees
15,000
ParentBelron
DivisionsSafelite AutoGlass
Service AutoGlass
Safelite Solutions
Websitewww.safelite.com

History

Bud Glassman and Art Lankin started Safelite in a junkyard in Wichita, Kansas in 1947.[1]

Over time, the company evolved with Safelite Solutions, offering major insurance and fleet companies a third-party claims management service, and with Service AutoGlass, a national provider of wholesale vehicle glass products, installation tools, and materials.

In 2007, Safelite was acquired by Belron,[2] the world's largest vehicle glass company, providing service in over 32 countries.

Thomas Feeney became the president and CEO in 2008.[3] In late 2021, Renee Cachillo became the President and CEO as Thomas Feeney moved into a leadership role for Belron North America.

Sometime in the early 2010s, Safelite bought out Auto Glass Center, "Your Hometown Glass Company", which had locations in the midwest including Moline, Illinois, and Lincoln, Nebraska. The company is older than Safelite by a year. The acquisition of these locations by Safelite marks the first time they have had a presence in these areas. The original Auto Glass Center vehicles (now with a Safelite sticker on the driver and passenger doors) continued to be used for some time after until being replaced with original Safelite vehicles.

Description

It is a subsidiary of Belron, which is in turn owned by the Belgian D'Ieteren group. Belron operates similar companies in other countries, including Carglass in most of Europe, Autoglass in Britain and Ireland, Lebeau and Speedy Glass (Belron Canada Inc.) in Canada, O'Brien in Australia, and Smith & Smith in New Zealand.

Prior to being purchased by Belron, Safelite had been owned by J.P. Morgan & Co. â€“ a result of the company's 1997 bankruptcy filing.[4]

The company is composed of three major business operations that include:

  • automotive glass fulfillment services, operating under the trade name Safelite AutoGlass
  • a wholesale business named Service AutoGlass
  • a claims-management services provider named Safelite Solutions

Safelite AutoGlass operates in all 50 states.[5]

See also

References
  1. "About Safelite | Safelite Reviews | Safelite AutoGlass". www.safelite.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  2. "UPDATE 2-D'Ieteren's Belron buys U.S. market leader". Reuters. February 6, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  3. "Safelite AutoGlass Leaders | Safelite AutoGlass". www.safelite.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  4. Database (undated). "Safelite Glass Corporation". BankruptcyData.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  5. Staff (undated). "Safelite AutoGlass® Companies". Safelite Group. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
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