Parker Automotive CEO Resigns After Less Than 2 Months

Ronald L. Cedillos has resigned as chief executive officer of Parker Automotive Corp., less than two months after taking the job when the company’s founder stepped down because of legal problems involving another business.

In an interview Tuesday, Cedillos said he is leaving the company, which makes fuel-cleaning systems for cars, because of increasing outside work for newly elected Gov. Pete Wilson. He also resigned from the company’s board of directors but remains a major shareholder.

Company spokeswoman Diane Parker said a replacement for Cedillos has been selected but declined to identify the new CEO until a formal announcement is approved by the board later this week.

Cedillos also declined to name his replacement. He said that although it was not disclosed in the Nov. 27 announcement of his appointment to the CEO’s post, he had accepted the position only on an interim basis.

His resignation was accepted by Parker directors Monday, after the new CEO was selected.

Cedillos, owner of Cedillos Testing Co. in Long Beach and a major fund-raiser for Wilson during his gubernatorial campaign last year, said his increasing involvement in state politics led him to step down from the Parker post.

“I am doing a lot of political work these days,” said Cedillos, a Republican, “and I’m spending a lot of time in Sacramento.”

He declined to specify what he is doing for Wilson but said he is kept busy “taking care of some things for the new Administration.”

Cedillos was named CEO of Parker Automotive in late November after Michael Parker resigned because his legal problems were affecting the company.