The Merry-Go-Round At Goodyear North America Goes On Again

William J. Sharp, (58) Goodyear’s president of North American Tire, has announced that he is to retire after 36 years’ service with Goodyear. Sam Gibara, Goodyear’s chairman, CEO and president, paid tribute to him, saying: “Bill has had an outstanding career in which he has made major contributions to the enterprise on an international scale.

” Sharp will be succeeded by John C. Polhemus (56), currently president of Goodyear’s Latin America region. In turn, Polhemus will be succeeded by Chris W.

Clark (48), at present managing director of Goodyear Brazil. Sharp had been president of North American Tire since July last year and his previous positions included three years as president of global support operations and four years as president of Goodyear Europe. Other posts held by Sharp include executive vice president of product supply; vice president of tyre manufacturing; director, tire manufacturing, Europe and director, domestic tire manufacturing.

He also served as plant manager of tire factories in the USA, France and Luxembourg. Polhemus joined Goodyear in 1969 as an international sales trainee, working in sales management in Denmark, Finland, Greece and Hong Kong before becoming assistant managing director for Goodyear Argentina in 1980. Subsequently he served as managing director in the Philippines, Malaysia, Turkey and Brazil before being appointed vice president, Latin American region in 1995.

last year he was elected president, Latin American region. Clark joined the company as a management trainee in 1973. After holding managerial positions in Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, Indonesia, Australia, Venezuela and Brazil, he was appointed director of finance, Latin American region, in 1993.

He later served as managing director of Goodyear Indonesia and, in 1998, was appointed managing director of Goodyear Brazil. Goodyear has taken the opportunity of announcing a number of organisational changes in its top management, which are as follows: Marco Molinari (vice president of sales and marketing, North American Tire) takes up the new position of vice president, global marketing projects. Jim M.

Vogel (director, corporate accounts, North American Tire) becomes vice president of marketing and corporate accounts for North American Tire, reporting to Polhemus. Chris Clark is succeeded as managing director of Goodyear, Brazil by Eduardo Fortunato, currently director of sales and marketing, Latin America region. All of the above appointments are effective immediately.