Article: New Harley leader is outsider Johnson Controls president takes motorcycle firm reins on May 1

He's an outsider, the first executive hired from another company to run Harley-Davidson Inc. in recent memory.

And he doesn't even own a motorcycle -- although Keith E. Wandell promises to remedy that as one of his first executive decisions.

"I have a bike picked out and am getting ready to make the purchase really quick," said Wandell, 59, hired Monday to replace retiring Harley president and chief executive James L. Ziemer.

"My new motto is 'Screw it, let's ride,' " Wandell added, quoting a line from Harley's latest advertising campaign.

Wandell is president and chief operating officer at Glendale- based Johnson Controls Inc., where he has worked for the past 21 years. He moves to Harley ...

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