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What does it take to stitch 100 years of history into a modern, culture-first powerhouse that most consumers will never recognize on a label? Behzad Rassuli sits down with Highline Warren CEO Darcy Curran to explore how a quiet partner can produce 200 million gallons a year, own a national distribution footprint, and still choose to let the customer’s brand be the hero. The answer isn’t a slogan, it’s the daily work of vertical integration, relentless execution, and a people-powered culture that shows up in small details that matter.
Darcy shares how his path from English major to distribution leader shaped a leadership style built on tenacity and intellectual curiosity. They get specific about building one culture from many: town halls at every plant and DC, acting on feedback, fixing what’s broken, and tying every policy change back to what employees said they needed. The same approach extends to vendors and customers: pay on time, grow faster than the market, and get new products to shelf quickly. Decision-making stays collaborative and rigorous, with clear accountability and a tight portfolio of priorities... no silos, no theatrics.
The turning point arrives with a 30-year sole-source filter partnership that collapses overnight. Instead of compromising, the team cuts ties and builds a global supply network from scratch. Fill rates return, customer confidence rebounds, and new marquee programs follow. It’s a masterclass in resilience, proving that moats are forged under pressure when culture, operations, and trust align. They close by mapping the road to the next doubling of growth... expanding wallet share with current customers, moving into adjacent categories like household cleaners and industrial lubes, and protecting the moat of manufacturing plus distribution.
If you care about supply chain strategy, private label scale, and culture that actually changes behavior, this conversation will stay with you. Follow, share, and leave a review so more builders can find it!
To learn more about the Auto Care Association visit autocare.org.
To learn more about our show and suggest future topics and guests, visit autocare.org/podcast
Chapters
1. Setting The Stage: Who Is Highline Warren (00:00:00)
2. A Century Of Mergers And Integration (00:01:02)
3. Vertical Integration And Private Label Strategy (00:03:20)
4. From Plumbing To Auto: Lessons In Distribution (00:07:40)
5. Mentors, Grit, And Early Career Proof Points (00:11:10)
6. Family, Relationships, And The Power Of Culture (00:17:05)
7. Designing Culture With Intention (00:21:00)
8. Listening Tours And Fixing What’s Broken (00:25:35)
9. Being Best To Work For, Sell To, Buy From (00:29:40)
10. Are We Still Walking The Talk (00:33:20)
11. Hiring For Tenacity And Curiosity (00:36:20)
12. Decision-Making Without Lanes (00:41:40)
13. The Filters Crisis: Losing A Sole Source (00:46:55)
14. Rebuilding A Global Supply Chain (00:52:05)
15. Steady Leadership Under Pressure (00:56:45)
16. Bloom Where You’re Planted (01:00:52)
17. Reading Widely To Lead Wisely (01:06:12)
18. Roots In Newfoundland And Service (01:10:47)
19. Capturing The Little Things (01:15:02)
20. Vision: Adjacent Growth And Moats (01:18:52)
21. Succession, Boards, And Time (01:24:02)
22. Legacy: Who Packed Your Parachute (01:27:42)
23. Closing And Listener Reminders (01:36:22)
85 episodes
