Michelin Names New Commercial Director

Bill Schafer, 42, has been appointed commercial director of Michelin’s truck and bus operations in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Schafer previously spent five years as vice president of Michelin’s North American agricultural division based in Greenville, South Carolina. Schafer brings 16 years of experience within the Michelin Group and most recently held roles including three years as European key account manager for Michelin Fleet Solutions based at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France, prior to which he was commercial irector of Michelin’s truck operations in Mexico and Central America. Commenting on his new appointment, Schafer said: “My main focus will be to maintain Michelin’s presence as market leader in the replacement sector for bus and truck tyres in the UK, whilst growing our share of the market in Ireland. We enjoy many significant contracts with large national fleets and want to continue developing fresh opportunities, whilst also focusing on building new relationships with regional and local fleet customers. “Both ATS Euromaster and our Michelin Business Advantage (MBA) network of independent tyre distributors will be key to meeting our market aspirations,” he adds. Schafer reports to Bertrand Bonhomme, sales and marketing director for Michelin’s European Truck Tyre Division. He will be based at Michelin’s UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent and has relocated with his wife and three children.