Vice President, Public Affairs
Geno Effler was promoted to Vice President, Public Affairs for Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) in November 2006, reporting directly to President and CEO Anne Belec. In this role, Effler is responsible for media relations, internal communications and product placement activities related to the Volvo brand.
Effler, 51, has been in automotive public relations for 18 years. Prior to joining VCNA, he spent 16 months as brand communications manager for Aston Martin North America, handling all communications and auto show activities.
From 2002-2005, Effler served as Public Relations Manager/West for Mercedes-Benz USA, where he worked with both Mercedes-Benz and Maybach brands. Prior to his tenure at Mercedes-Benz USA, he spent nine years at Kia Motors America where he helped launch the Korean-based company to American consumers beginning in 1993. His diversity was apparent as he not only developed Kia’s public relations activities, but oversaw its championship motorsports program and award-winning consumer website.
Previously, he had spent five years in agency roles working on clients such as Mazda, Lamborghini and Pirelli. Effler graduated from Cal State Fullerton with B.A. in Communications (journalism emphasis). He spent the first nine years of his career doing public relations for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL and the Oakland Invaders of the USFL.
He and wife Leslee have a daughter, Drew, in college and a son, Chris, in high school.
# # #
