By CRM Staff
Toronto, Ontario — May 29, 2018 — Canada’s collision repair industry has lost one of its biggest champions. Dave Smith, a longstanding icon in the industry, has passed away.
As country manager for Canada, Dave was instrumental in growing the AkzoNobel brand across the country. He was a strong supporter of the CCIF, and sat on many volunteer boards to help build the image of the industry. Dave was always an ambassador for the industry, encouraging talent, process and engagement, among his other responsibilities. Last year he was appointed as the new U.S. east market regional sales leader, in charge of the company’s U.S. vehicle refinish operations east of the Mississippi.
“Dave always had a positive outlook and cared not only about the people in the industry, but the industry itself,” says Darryl Simmons, publisher of Collision Repair magazine. “On behalf of the industry, our condolences go out to his wife and family. He will be missed.”
Dave joined the AkzoNobel organization in 1993. He held various positions in sales, operations and technical departments in the Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver areas. He was regional sales manager for the western Canadian market before his appointment as country manager for Canada in 2010.
Dave’s deep experience across departments enabled him to lead AkzoNobel’s Canadian automotive refinish operations and help their bodyshop customers convert to waterborne coatings in a timely manner.
