Pangea LogoPangea, Formerly GST Seton

Who we are

Established in 1832,
reimagined in 2021

A global leather supplier to the world’s leading automotive brands, we providefull interior solutions that reinvent the standard in supplier service. With approximately 3,500 team members operating on four continents, we’re driven by a disciplined passion for leather.

Who we are

It begins with a name

In reimagining our company it was important to select a name that was
reflective of our product and our philosophy.

Pangea is a term that refers to a point in Earth’s history when the continents were connected as one supercontinent. Our company embodies this spirit. Our leather is tied to the earth, connected to one another and to our global team of artisans who make it.

Pangea manufacturing employee

Who we are

Connected by
nature

We embrace a culture of innovation that empowers our team, benefits our
customers and preserves our planet.

Read our Vision & Mission

Our vision

To be the world's most trusted automotive leather company, delivering a customer experience unlike anything else in the market.

Who we are

Connected by
nature

We embrace a culture of innovation that empowers our team, benefits our
customers and preserves our planet.

Our mission

Our people and processes embody a passion for leather mastery, lean enterprise, continuous sustainability and a global connectedness built on trust and commitment.

Our vision

Who we are

Character is what defines us

We’re a global team of 3,500 strong, driven by a disciplined passion for leather.
Our skilled artisans, located on four continents and in eight countries,
deliver interior experiences that emanate luxury and engage the senses.

Meet our global leadership team

Pangea
Leadership

1
Tim Brennan
EVP, Sales, Marketing, Design & Program Management
,
2
Francisco Escapite
EVP, Global Human Resources
,
3
Jamie Osuna
EVP, Global Operations
,
4
Tim Lieckfelt
EVP, Global Supply Chain
,
5
Laurie Busch
VP, Global Design
,
6
Randy Johnson
President & Chief Executive Officer
,
7
John Arends
CFO & EVP, Finance
,
8
Bob Tuuk
VP, Global Purchasing
,
Luiz Barbetta

Luiz Barbetta

Director - Global IT, CDC

Jeffrey Chen

Jeffrey Chen

President, Asia

Matt Ellis

Matt Ellis

Director, Mexico Operations

Simon Gawinski

Simon Gawinski

Senior Director of Sales, Europe Business Dev.

Tom Herron

Tom Herron

Director - Global Lean and Innovation, CDC

Roger Pinto

Roger Pinto

Director of Sustainability & Innovation, CDC

Jeff Miller

Jeff Miller

Senior Advanced Product Director, CDC

Alberto Palomino

Alberto Palomino

Product Development Director, Mexico

Russ Rice

Russ Rice

Senior Director of North America Sales & Program Mgt.

Shalen Sewnandan

Shalen Sewnandan

Director of European & African Operations

Jaquelyn Smith

Jaquelyn Smith

Director, Corporate Marketing

Nick Taniguchi

Nick Taniguchi

Director of Sales, Marketing & Program Management, Japan

1832
1922
1926
1933
1976
1990s
2000
2004
2006
2010
2018
2019
2021
Pangea Timeline

1926

Salesman Alfred Fried opens tannery and trading company specializing in handbags and belts in Manhattan.

2021

GST rebrands itself as Pangea.

2019

GST opens state-of-the-art global headquarters/customer development center in Rochester Hills, Mich.

2018

GST adds new finishing plant in Jiaxing, China.

2010

GST acquires Seton Company to become GST Seton AutoLeather.

2006

GST consolidates all cutting operations into Saltillo, Mexico campus; purchases CUINBA. Company relocates Global HQ & Technical Center from Maryland to Michigan.

2004

GST opens Nuevo Laredo, Mexico finishing facility. GST and SRL enter into strategic technology and supply agreement for re-tan and finishing capabilities in Shanghai, China.

2000

GST enters the China market via a consulting agreement with Genfort.

1990s

GST partners with Toyota to become the first American supplier to learn and implement the Toyota Production System. Leather sourcing team begins operating in South America. State-of-the-art cutting facility opens in Saltillo, Mexico. Seton launches manufacturing operations in Mulheim, Germany and Nigel, South Africa

1976

GST acquires operations formerly known as Byron Tanning to support the rapidly growing automotive leather market.

1933

Alfred’s brothers join business and merge company with John Flynn & Sons to form Garden State Tanning, expanding its business with plants in Newark and Cleveland. The company continues to grow as it enters the automotive leather component business, acquiring additional tanning facilities and expanding its manufacturing footprint over two decades.

1922

Following its founding in 1906, European leather manufacturer Seton begins supplying leather to the automotive industry

1832

Byron Tanning is established in Roxbury, Mass. by Joseph Byron. 65 years later, Joseph's grandson William, opens his own tanning business in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Maryland, amid an abundance of rock oak stands, the primary source of tannic acid used in the vegetable leather-tanning process.

1926

Salesman Alfred Fried opens tannery and trading company specializing in handbags and belts in Manhattan.

2021

GST rebrands itself as Pangea.

2019

GST opens state-of-the-art global headquarters/customer development center in Rochester Hills, Mich.

2018

GST adds new finishing plant in Jiaxing, China.

2010

GST acquires Seton Company to become GST Seton AutoLeather.

2006

GST consolidates all cutting operations into Saltillo, Mexico campus; purchases CUINBA. Company relocates Global HQ & Technical Center from Maryland to Michigan.

2004

GST opens Nuevo Laredo, Mexico finishing facility. GST and SRL enter into strategic technology and supply agreement for re-tan and finishing capabilities in Shanghai, China.

2000

GST enters the China market via a consulting agreement with Genfort.

1990s

GST partners with Toyota to become the first American supplier to learn and implement the Toyota Production System. Leather sourcing team begins operating in South America. State-of-the-art cutting facility opens in Saltillo, Mexico. Seton launches manufacturing operations in Mulheim, Germany and Nigel, South Africa

1976

GST acquires operations formerly known as Byron Tanning to support the rapidly growing automotive leather market.

1933

Alfred’s brothers join business and merge company with John Flynn & Sons to form Garden State Tanning, expanding its business with plants in Newark and Cleveland. The company continues to grow as it enters the automotive leather component business, acquiring additional tanning facilities and expanding its manufacturing footprint over two decades.

1922

Following its founding in 1906, European leather manufacturer Seton begins supplying leather to the automotive industry

1832

Byron Tanning is established in Roxbury, Mass. by Joseph Byron. 65 years later, Joseph's grandson William, opens his own tanning business in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Maryland, amid an abundance of rock oak stands, the primary source of tannic acid used in the vegetable leather-tanning process.

View Regional Certifications

Who we are

Our Locations

Global Headquarters

Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA

Global Manufacturing

Jiaxing, China
Jánosháza, Hungary
León, Mexico
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Saltillo, Mexico

Global Sales

Nagoya, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Seoul, Korea

Jiaxing, China

Manufacturing

Nagoya, Japan

Sales

Tokyo, Japan

Design, Sales

Seoul, Korea

Sales

Nigel, South Africa

Manufacturing + Sales

Jánosháza, Hungary

Manufacturing

Mulheim, Germany

Manufacturing + Sales

León, Mexico

Manufacturing

Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

Manufacturing

Saltillo, Mexico

Manufacturing

Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA

Global Headquarters

Global Headquarters
Manufacturing
Sales
Manufacturing + Sales