Cooper Standard appoints Soma Venkat as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Technology & AI Officer to spearhead AI strategy and business innovation.
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| Soma Venkat takes on the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Information Technology & AI Officer at Cooper Standard to lead AI-driven transformation across the company. Image: Cooper Standard |
NORTHVILLE, Michigan, USA – September 19, 2025:
Cooper Standard, a global leader in automotive and industrial manufacturing, has announced the promotion of Soma Venkat, Ph.D., to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Technology & AI Officer, effective September 15, 2025. In this elevated role, Venkat will lead the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy and continue overseeing its critical information technology (IT) functions. This strategic appointment aims to drive AI-driven innovations and business optimization across the company, positioning Cooper Standard for faster, more agile solutions and advancements in the global market.
Jeffrey Edwards, Chairman and CEO of Cooper Standard, remarked, “We are excited to build on the momentum of Cooper Standard’s AI initiatives, and Soma’s expertise will be instrumental in driving this vision forward. His deep knowledge and leadership will help us unlock new efficiencies, enabling us to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our customers at an even faster pace.”
Venkat, who rejoined Cooper Standard in 2021 as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Technology Officer, has a proven track record of advancing IT systems and driving digital transformation. Prior to returning to the company, he served as Chief Information Officer at IXS (Innovative Xcessories and Services), where he led successful digitization and cybersecurity projects. Between 2016 and 2020, Venkat played an integral role at Cooper Standard, ultimately rising to the position of Global Vice President of IT.
“I am honored to take on this expanded role and lead Cooper Standard’s efforts to unlock the full potential of AI across our business,” said Venkat. “AI offers vast opportunities to fuel innovation, streamline operations, and create significant growth. Our focus will be on initiatives that provide real, measurable value.”
Venkat brings a wealth of knowledge and academic excellence to his new role, holding a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Madras, India, a Master of Applied Science in Applied Mathematics from The College of Engineering, Guindy, India, and a Ph.D. in Computational Mathematics from the University of Windsor, Canada. He is also a Six Sigma Black Belt and has completed executive certificates in management, marketing, and finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, along with an AI certificate from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
As Senior Vice President and Chief IT & AI Officer, Venkat will lead the charge in accelerating artificial intelligence and digital technologies across Cooper Standard, aiming to keep the company at the forefront of automotive manufacturing innovation while enhancing operational efficiency and product delivery times.