As Founder, Chairman
& Chief Executive Officer of the Piston Group, Vinnie Johnson is the heart of the Piston Group of companies.
For many people, being a perennial fan favorite with two NBA rings would mark the peak achievement of a lifetime. For Vinnie Johnson, it was just the beginning. Following his success with the Detroit Pistons basketball team, Vinnie took on a new challenge by establishing Piston Automotive in 1995, as a means of creating economic vitality, jobs, and opportunity in Detroit. The company quickly established itself as a supplier of choice for major international automotive companies, including Ford Motor Company and GM.
Under Vinnie’s leadership, the Piston Group boasts over $2.9 Billion in annual revenue and has expanded from a single facility in Detroit to multiple locations across the Midwest including those in Michigan, Ohio, Missouri,
and Kentucky.
Vinnie has led the company through successful joint ventures with industry- leading firms such as Lear Corporation, Continental Teves, and Sachs Automotive. He has also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the joint ventures JL Automotive, LLC and PASA Modules, LLC.
In addition to his philanthropy and charity work, Vinnie is a member of the Michigan Minority Business Development Council, and the Detroit Chamber of Commerce.
