Toru Tsuda New Bridgestone Europe President

On 22 May Bridgestone Corporation announced a string of senior management changes that mean Toru Tsuda has become the new Chairman, President and CEO of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA. Mr Tsuda is currently Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Products Development Tire Products Development.

Current Bridgestone Europe chairman, president and CEO, Takashi Urano, will become vice president and senior officer responsible for International Tire Business Operations. This role means Mr Urano will also be director Middle East, Africa, Russia, Asia, Oceania and China Operations Division; and concurrently general manager, Middle East, Africa and Russia Operations.

The management changes in full are as follows:

1. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Members of the Board
(Effective July 1, 2008)

– Osamu INOUE
New position and responsibilities:
Senior Vice President Responsible for Global Logistics Center and Motorsport; Concurrently responsible for Global Logistics Center; Concurrently responsible for Products Development

Current position and responsibilities:
Senior Vice President Responsible for Global Logistics Center and Quality Management; Concurrently responsible for Quality Management; Concurrently responsible for Global Logistics Center

– Masaaki TSUYA
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer Chief Risk-Management Officer Responsible for Corporate Administration Chief Compliance Officer, Office of Group CEO, Internal Auditing;
Concurrently Director, Internal Auditing Office

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer Chief Risk-Management Officer Responsible for Human Resources, General Affairs, Legal Affairs and Corporate Communications
Chief Compliance Officer, Office of Group CEO, Internal Auditing;
Concurrently Director, Internal Auditing Office

– Toru TSUDA
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer Seconded to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Products Development Tire Products Development

2. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Corporate Officers
(Effective July 1, 2008)

– Yasumi KAWASAKI
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer
Responsible for Quality Management

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer
Production and Distribution, Mold Technology and Manufacturing

– Takashi URANO
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer
Responsible for International Tire Business Operations;
Concurrently Director, Middle East, Africa, Russia, Asia,
Oceania and China Operations Division;
Concurrently General Manager,
Middle East, Africa and Russia Operations

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Senior Officer
Seconded to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA
Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA

– Akira NOZAWA
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Chief Information Officer
IT & Network and Internal Control;
Concurrently Director, Internal Control Division

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Finance and IT & Network; Concurrently Director, Internal Control Division

– Hideo HARA
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Tire Products Strategy

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer Original Equipment Tire Sales

– Kiyoshi NOMURA
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Production and Distribution, Mold Technology and Manufacturing

Current position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
International Tire Business Operations

3. New Members of Corporate Officers
(Effective July 1, 2008)

– Yasuo RYUTO
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Original Equipment Tire Sales

Current position and responsibilities:
Assistant to Vice President and Officer
Diversified Products

– Koki TAKAHASHI
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Finance

Current position and responsibilities:
Director
Seconded to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA

– Masato HIRUMA
New position and responsibilities:
Vice President and Officer
Tire Products Development

Current position and responsibilities:
Director
Seconded to Bridgestone Technical Center Europe S.p.A.