Toyo Tire Appoints James Hawk as Corporate Officer

Toyo Tire Japan has appointed James Hawk as a corporate officer, making him the first non-Japanese corporate officer since the company was founded in 1945. In addition to this new position, Hawk has been promoted to president and plant manager of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. (TNA), the company’s US passenger car and light truck tyre manufacturing plant located in White, Georgia.

A 35-year veteran of the tyre manufacturing business, Hawk has served as senior vice president of operations and plant manager of TNA since December 2004, when plans were still being drawn up for the state-of-the-art facility. Under Hawk’s guidance, production began in January 2006, and by 2007 the manufacturing plant exceeded production goals. According to the company, TNA is now well underway with a plant expansion project, Phase 2, which will reportedly increase production capacity by December 2008.