Goodyear Appoints Fish as Senior VP of Global Operations

Goodyear has announced the appointment of John “Jack” D. Fish as senior vice president of global operations. Fish replaces Christopher W. Clark, senior vice president of global sourcing, who in June announced his intention to retire after 36 years with Goodyear. Fish will be responsible for overseeing manufacturing and related supply chain activities throughout all of the corporation’s global business units. He will begin work at Goodyear on 5 October, 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Jack as part of our team, and at the same time want to thank Chris Clark for his many valuable contributions throughout his 36 years with Goodyear,” said Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“Jack had an impressive track record at General Electric of improving global manufacturing and supply chain processes to drive customer service, efficiency and quality,” said Keegan. Indeed, Fish’s track record is exemplified by his leadership of a programme at GE in 2006 that aimed to reduce the cost of lighting its plants by 50 per cent. Fish, 52, spent almost 29 years with General Electric Company, most recently serving as vice president of consumer global supply chain for GE’s Consumer and Industrial business, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Jack’s background and experience are a great fit for Goodyear,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear’s chief operating officer and president, North American Tire.  “We are confident that Jack’s demonstrated leadership will help us take our efforts on global advantaged supply chain and productivity to the next level, in particular as it relates to our new four-year contract with the United Steelworkers.”

Fish began his career in 1980 with GE’s Aircraft Engines business, where he served in a variety of operations, manufacturing and quality control roles until 1996. He joined GE’s Transportation Systems business in 1997 as general manager of global supply chain. In 2001, he was elected as an officer of the company and promoted to vice president of supply chain for the Global Lighting business, and, in 2004, he moved to his most recent role with the Consumer and Industrial business.

Fish received his bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his MBA, Finance, from Xavier University in Cincinnati.