The founder and CEO of First Brands resigned Monday, weeks after the auto parts supplier filed for bankruptcy protection amid an accounting scandal that has left lenders scrambling for more than $2 billion in missing funds.

Patrick James , who founded the company in 2013, will be replaced on an interim basis by Charles Moore , who was appointed as chief restructuring officer last month to sort out the company's financial and potential legal troubles and prepare it for a possible sale.

After changing its name to First Brands from Crowne Group about five years ago, the Cleveland company began buying and then cobbling together a number of aftermarket auto parts manufacturers through debt-financed deals. Acquisitions by First Brands included well-known industry brands like Fram filters, A

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