Bridgestone’s “Duke” Returning to Japan

At the end of this year the chairman of the Bridgestone Americas (BSAM) Board of Directors, Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, is to return to Japan in order to commence a new assignment within Bridgestone Corporation. As of January 1, 2011, Nishiyama will be promoted to vice president and senior officer, responsible for International Tire Business Operations, Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ).

In this role the following BSJ business units will report to him: Asia and Oceania Tire; China Tire; Middle East and Africa Tire; and the Specialty Tire Business Division. In addition, Nishiyama will take responsibility for the following divisions within BSJ: International Tire Business Administration; Middle East, Africa, Russia, Asia, Oceania and China Operations; Americas and Europe Operations; and International Retail Business Support. Masaaki Tsuya, a member of both the BSJ and BSAM Boards, and BSJ’s vice president and senior officer, as well as that company’s chief risk-management officer, chief human rights officer and officer responsible for corporate administration, will temporarily serve as BSAM’s chairman until Nishiyama’s successor is named; Tsuya will retain his duties and responsibilities with BSJ.

“Although Duke will be greatly missed here at Bridgestone Americas, we are thrilled about the opportunity this new role provides him,” said Gary Garfield, BSAM CEO and president. “We are also very pleased and excited to announce that Tsuya-san has agreed to serve as BSAM’s chairman. Given his broad scope of responsibility combined with his clear understanding of the global business environment and BSA’s position within the Bridgestone Group, we are privileged to have Tsuya-san serve in this very important role.”

Also effective January 1, 2011, Yasutaka Enoki, currently serving as president, Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology (BACRT), and executive vice president, Bridgestone Americas Product Development, has accepted a new position with Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (BSEU) at its Rome Technical Center (TCE). Enoki-san, who has been a member of the Bridgestone Americas team since 2008, will serve as BSEU’s deputy managing director, TCE.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) has also announced leadership changes in its Product Development, BACRT, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management (LSCM) groups. All changes are effective immediately.

Steve Shelton, currently vice president, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, has accepted the position of vice president, Product Development, BATO. In his new role, Shelton will be responsible for all BATO tyre development groups, as well as ATW (the race tyre manufacturing facility) and the Akron, Ohio-based Product Development facilities.

Bob Handlos, currently vice president, Product Development, has accepted the position of vice president, Research, BACRT. Handlos will oversee the group responsible for research and polymer science technology.

Jason Poulton, currently director, Research, has accepted the position of director, Product Development and Technology Planning. In addition to supporting Shelton in his new role, Poulton’s responsibilities will include long-term strategic technical planning, communication and cooperation with BATO businesses and functional owners and all budgeting functions.

John McLaughlin, currently manager, Special Projects, Manufacturing and Technology, has been promoted to the position of director, Supply Planning and Sourcing within the LSCM group. In his new position, McLaughlin will be responsible for all supply, planning and sourcing functions for BATO, and will also be responsible for aligning the organisation to more fully optimise and integrate supply chain management efforts on a global basis.

Tom Seitz, currently director of Operations in LSCM responsible for the functions of Controller and transportation, will now also oversee the warehousing and private fleet functions within that group.