Detroit, Michigan - 10/07/2024
Jose L. Flores Honored in Prestigious Crain's 40 Under 40
When Jose L. Flores took over a decades-old automotive supplier three years ago, he saw the need for a transition.
Troy-based Ancor Automotive had a nearly 50-year history manufacturing sticker labels for Ford Motor Co. that would be placed in vehicle windows. But when Flores took over the company in 2022, he saw the opportunity to diversify the company’s operations with a focus on software and data management.
The company still makes approximately 40 different vehicle labels that provide information such as vehicle identification numbers and proper tire pressure, but each label needs differing forms of data management.
“That’s the magic,” Flores said. “We’re not a printing company. We’re a data management and automotive software company.”
Flores, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, started his career overseas as an analyst for the British American Tobacco Co., and later worked in corporate consulting and for a Rochester Hills automation company.
Ultimately, Flores decided he wanted “direct impact” on where he worked and the opportunity to lead a smaller company felt like the natural progression in his career. But taking the “stagnant” company from its traditional roots to more of a tech-focused firm also meant changing the culture.
Two years after becoming CEO, Flores helped launch the Innovation Hub by Ancor Automotive. The hub, he said, “not only aligns Ancor with the rapid technological advancements in the industry but also marks a significant transformation from a traditional tier-one automotive supplier to a front-runner in innovation and digital solutions.”
Going forward, the CEO said he sees an opportunity to expand the company’s offerings into the health care and retail sectors.
Beyond his role at Ancor, Flores works with the New Economy Initiative and MICHAuto. He was also named 2023 Businessperson of the Year by The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
By Nick Manes