Northville, Michigan, United States, September, 2025 – Cooper Standard (NYSE: CPS) today announced the appointment of Soma Venkat, Ph.D., to senior vice president and chief information technology and AI officer, effective September 15, 2025. Venkat will lead Cooper Standard’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, helping to advance innovation and deliver transformative solutions across the enterprise, while continuing to oversee the Company’s information technology function. Based at Cooper Standard’s world headquarters in Northville, Venkat will be responsible for accelerating progress and realizing the potential AI can offer the business.
“We are excited to build on the success of Cooper Standard’s AI activities,” said Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO of Cooper Standard. “Soma’s extensive background will be invaluable as we move our AI strategy forward. With this additional focus, the Company expects to further optimize our business, enabling us to deliver new solutions to the market faster.”
“I’m honored to take on this expanded role,” said Venkat. “We see tremendous opportunity in applying AI across our business, unlocking new avenues for innovation and growth. We are strategically focused on initiatives that will deliver real value and measurable impact.”
Venkat rejoined Cooper Standard in 2021, serving as senior vice president and chief information technology officer. Prior to rejoining Cooper Standard, he was the chief information officer for IXS (Innovative Xcessories and Services), where he improved the IT team and implemented key digitization and cybersecurity initiatives. From 2016 to 2020, Venkat held roles of increasing responsibility at Cooper Standard, culminating in his position as global vice president of IT.
Venkat earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Madras, India, and a Master of Applied Science in Applied Mathematics from The College of Engineering, Guindy, India. He also holds a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics from the University of Windsor, Canada. Venkat is a Six Sigma Black Belt and has completed several executive certificates in management, marketing, and finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, as well as a certificate in AI from MIT Sloan School of Management.
About Cooper Standard
Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Michigan, with locations in 20 countries, is a leading global supplier of sealing and fluid handling systems and components. Utilizing our materials science and manufacturing expertise, we create innovative and sustainable engineered solutions for diverse transportation and industrial markets. Cooper Standard’s approximately 22,000 team members (including contingent workers) are at the heart of our success, continuously improving our business and surrounding communities.
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