Noble Retires as Bridgestone Australia Director

Bridgestone Australia’s Board of Directors has announced the retirement of Mr Barry Noble, B.Ec, FAICD, as a director of the Company, effective as of 1st August 2008. Mr Noble joined the Board as a non-executive director in July 2003, and the company’s directors have acknowledged Mr. Noble’s “significant contribution as an independent director during his five years on the Board.”

In March 2007, the directors advised that a proposal to privatise Bridgestone Australia through a selective capital reduction had been approved by shareholders. As a result, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation of Japan. Now that these arrangements have been settled, the decision has been made that it is no longer necessary to have a non-executive director on the Board of the Australian company.

Chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Australia, Mr. Mac Ohashi, said: “Mr. Noble played a vital role as an independent director during the selective capital reduction process and at all times acted in a professional manner, and in the best interests of shareholders.”

Mr Noble said that he had appreciated the opportunity to serve on the Board of an important and successful public listed company in Australia, and that it had been a worthwhile and valuable experience.