Goodyear Announces Joe Ruocco as New Senior VP

Joe Ruocco has been appointed as Goodyear’s new Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Ruocco, who has spent 23 years with GE, is due to take up the position at the beginning of August and “will provide strategic direction and business leadership for Goodyear’s global human resources operations,” according to Goodyear. He will also become a member of Goodyear’s core leadership team.

On the appointment, CEO Robert Keegan said that, “Joe has a wealth of experience in HR leadership positions with GE, an obvious global leader in the area of human resource management. We believe he is an excellent addition to our leadership team as we continue to build on Goodyear’s reputation as an innovative and globally admired company.” Ruocco stated his excitement at joining the team and his desire “to help Goodyear achieve its strategic business objectives.”

Ruocco joined GE in 1985 as a member of the HR Leadership Program, moving into HR leadership roles of increasing responsibility and breadth in the company’s Aircraft Engines, Medical Systems, Plastics and Corporate operations. In October 1999, he was named Senior Human Resources Manager for GE Lighting in Cleveland, Ohio, a role he held until December 2002. He then was named Vice President, Human Resources for GE Industrial Systems and appointed a GE company officer. He was named Vice President of Human Resources, GE Consumer & Industrial when Consumer Products and GE Industrial Systems merged in December 2003. GE Consumer & Industrial is a $15 billion global business that employs 55,000 people in more than 100 countries, and is an industry leader in major appliance and lighting products, and in integrated electrical distribution equipment and systems. His role was expanded in December 2006 to include HR responsibility for GE’s Industrial segment, which at the time was a $35 billion division of GE with approximately 100,000 employees.

Ruocco will replace Kathy Geier, who has retired after 30 years’ service. Keegan said that she represented an important and valued member of the leadership team “during Goodyear’s historic turnaround. During her tenure, Goodyear created an outstanding leadership team and base of business talent.”