Senior Management Changes at Bridgestone

On September 28 Bridgestone announced that its board of directors has approved the following proposals of the changes in member of the board and in corporate officers.

1. Changes in position and responsibilities of members of the board (effective October 16, 2007)
– Tatsuya Okajima
New position and responsibilities: Senior vice president, advisor to the president
Current position and responsibilities: senior vice president, chief compliance officer, responsible for original equipment tyre sales and quality management; concurrently chief risk-management officer

– Masaharu Oku
New position and responsibilities: Vice president & senior officer, advisor to the president. Oku has been seconded to Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd where he will serve as chairman.
Current position and responsibilities: vice president & senior officer, responsible for production technology

– Osamu Inoue
New position and responsibilities: senior vice president, responsible for GLC and quality management; concurrently responsible for quality management and GLC;
Current position and responsibilities: vice president & senior officer responsible for GLC

– Junya Sato
New position and responsibilities: Senior vice president, responsible for tyre sales in Japan; concurrently responsible for replacement and original equipment tyre sales.
Current position and responsibilities: vice president & senior officer, responsible for replacement tyre sales.

2. Retiring members of the board (effective October 16, 2007)
– Yasuo Asami
New position and responsibilities: Advisor
Current position and responsibilities: Vice president & senior officer, responsible for diversified products

3. Changed position and responsibilities of corporate officers (effective October 1, 2007)
– Masaaki Tsuya
New position and responsibilities: Vice president & officer, Office of Group CEO, Human Resources, Legal Affairs and Corporate Communications; concurrently director, Internal Auditing Office, Human Resources Division
Current position and responsibilities: Vice president & officer, Office of Group CEO, Human Resources, Legal Affairs and Corporate Communications; concurrently director, Internal Auditing Office, Internal Control Division, Human Resources Division

– Akira Nozawa
New position and responsibilities: Vice president & officer, chief financial officer, Finance and IT & Network; concurrently director, Internal Control Division.
Current position and responsibilities: Vice president & officer, chief financial officer, Finance and IT & Network

– Masayuki Okabe
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
General Affairs and Intellectual Property
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer, General Affairs and Intellectual Property; Concurrently Director, General Affairs and Labor Relations Division

4. Changed position and responsibilities of corporate officers (effective October 16, 2007)
– Kazuo Kakehi
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Senior Officer
Responsible for Diversified Products, Industrial Products, Civil Engineering and Building Materials and Equipments
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer, Chemical and Industrial Products Production & Technology; Concurrently Chemical and Industrial Products Production Technology Development

– Kazuhisa Nishigai
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Senior Officer
Responsible for Production Technology
Tire Production Technology Development
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Japan Tire Production

– Narumi Zaitsu
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Seconded to Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.
Vice Chairman of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Tire Production Technology Development;
Concurrently Director, Tire Production Technology Coordination Division

– Masaaki Tsuya
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Chief Compliance Officer, Office of Group CEO, Chief Risk-Management Officer, Human Resources, General Affairs, Legal Affairs and Corporate Communications;
Concurrently Director, Internal Auditing Office, Human Resources Division, China Department
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Office of Group CEO, Human Resources, Legal Affairs and Corporate Communications;
Concurrently Director, Internal Auditing Office, Human Resources Division

– Hiroshi Yamaguchi
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Safety, Environment and Intellectual Property, Motorsport
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Safety and Environment, Motorsport

– Osamu Mori
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Electro-Materials, Chemical Products and O.E. Component
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Electro-Materials and Chemical Products

– Masayuki Okabe
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Diversified Products, Sports and Cycle Business Control
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
General Affairs and Intellectual Property

– Hideo Hara
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Original Equipment Tire Sales;
Concurrently Director, O.E. Tire Sales Division
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Original Equipment Tire Sales

– Yasumi Kawasaki
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Production and Distribution, Mold Technology and Manufacturing;
Concurrently Director, Tire Production and Distribution Administration Division
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Production and Distribution, Mold Technology and Manufacturing

5. New corporate officers (effective October 16, 2007)
– Satoshi Tagamori
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Chemical and Industrial Products Production & Technology, Chemical and Industrial Products Production Technology Development;
Concurrently Director, Chemical and Industrial Products Production Division
Current position and responsibilities: Director, Chemical and Industrial Products Production Division

– Yoshiharu Inoue
New position and responsibilities: Vice President & Officer
Japan Tire Production
Current position and responsibilities: Plant Manager
Kurume Plant

6. Retiring corporate officers (effective October 16, 2007)
– Jiro Asada
New position and responsibilities: Advisor
Current position and responsibilities: Vice President and Officer
Industrial Products, Civil Engineering and Building Materials and Equipments