Goodyear Top Tyre Maker in Fortune’s Most Admired List

Goodyear has secured a slot in Fortune magazine’s Most Admired Companies 2008 list. The publication surveyed executives, directors, and securities analysts to compile its list of the companies they esteem the most highly, and Goodyear received the highest ranking of any tyre manufacturer, edging Bridgestone into second place.

The manufacturer has expressed pride in the high score it received in four key attributes: innovation, people management, use of assets and global orientation. Among motor vehicle parts companies appearing on the list, Goodyear was also judged the best in regard to innovation and the quality of its products and services. “This recognition by our industry peers is something for which we are extremely proud,” said Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear chairman and CEO. “Not only did Goodyear lead our industry category, but we were ranked well ahead of our global tyre competitors,” he added.

“When you think about where we were five years ago, nowhere near the top of this list, you see the results of outstanding execution by Goodyear associates around the globe against the strategic drivers of our business.”

Keegan said the acknowledgement of Goodyear’s innovation is, likewise, the result of the company’s commitment to its strategy and a testament to its successful new products. “We are passionate about innovation and quality,” he said. “Our associates are innovating across every facet of our business, not just in product development.”

The company’s appearance in Fortune’s most admired pages follows the February 22 recognition by The Wall Street Journal for leading shareholder return over the past five years in the automotive category and Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine’s recent selection of Goodyear as one of the Top 100 Corporate Citizens. “We see these achievements as both validation of our strategic direction and continuation of our positive momentum,” Keegan added.