Michael K. Simonte joined American Axle & Manufacturing in December 1998, as director, corporate finance. In that role, he coordinated all of the financial accounting, planning and reporting activities of the company until he was appointed treasurer in September 2002. He was named vice president and treasurer in June 2004, and was appointed vice president, Finance & Chief Financial Officer on January 1, 2006. Simonte assumed his new position on December 1, 2007. Prior to joining American Axle & Manufacturing, Simonte served as senior manager in the Detroit office of Ernst & Young LLP. During his 13 years of progressively more responsible work assignments with Ernst & Young LLP, Simonte specialized in providing auditing and accounting services for automotive clients and other publicly held concerns. Simonte holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Michigan and is a Certified Public Accountant.