Eaton Corp. named Staci L. Kroon president of Automotive, North America Division, reporting to Ken Davis, president, Vehicle Group, effective Jan. 1.

Kroon, most recently senior vice president and general manager for Eaton's Commercial Vehicle Transmission business, will be based in Marshall, Mich. She succeeds Jake Hooks, who will retire from Eaton on March 1. A search for Kroon's successor is under way.

Since joining Eaton in 1996, Kroon has held numerous business, manufacturing and plant management positions including the roles of general manager of the Heavy Duty Transmissions business in North America, director of business development, business unit manager and manufacturing operations manager for Eaton's automotive business.

Kroon earned her masters degree in manufacturing management from the University of Cambridge, and bachelors degrees in finance and mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Hooks began his career with Aeroquip Corp., as a product engineer in 1978 and joined Eaton in 1999 as vice president and general manager of the Global Hose Division. He was named to his current role in 2009.