Goodyear Dunlop announces Motorsport leadership, farm appointments

Goodyear Dunlop has announced three new leadership appointments in its international Dunlop Motorsport business. The appointments of Patrice Omont as director, tyre technology, motorsport and motorcycle; Sebastien Montet, manager, motorsport technology; and James Bailey as director, motorsport marketing and communications are aimed to help promote the motorsport aspects of the brand in world motorsport. In addition to the motorsport leadership changes, the company has announced alongside a new farm tyre specialist, responsible for the East Midlands and Lincolnshire region.

Omont joined Dunlop France in 1984 as a designer, before holding various management roles in training, customer service and the car tyre development team. His most recent roles have been as technical director for Goodyear’s Asia-Pacific business unit and as leader of the company’s testing programmes.

He is joined in the research and development team by Montet, who has 12 years’ experience in the company, most recently in the design team at Dunlop’s motorcycle development centre in Montlucon, France. This appointment marks a return to Birmingham for Sebastien, who worked in the Motorsport team as a tyre designer earlier in his career.

James Bailey’s appointment will build on 15 years marketing and PR experience within Goodyear Dunlop, including his most recent responsibility as brand PR director for Europe, Middle East and Africa.  His focus will be on building collaborative marketing programmes with Dunlop’s strategic partners in motorsport and driving consistency and awareness across Dunlop’s international activities.

Sanjay Khanna managing director, Dunlop Brand EMEA, commented: “These appointments are key in building the Dunlop Motorsport business to drive our ambitious plans for the Dunlop brand both in the road tyre market and in the motorsport business. Dunlop’s focus is on developing motorsport technology that cascades into our road tyres. What we learn on the track, the ultimate test arena for a tyre, we apply to our road car and motorcycle tyres. I’m proud of the Dunlop Motorsport success so far this year, and this strengthening of the team signals our ambition in building the business and its relationship with our technical partners.”

Goodyear Dunlop’s European motorsport business is headed by general manager Jean-Felix Bazelin on the site of Fort Dunlop, where Dunlop Motorsport designs, develops and manufactures over 200,000 tyres a year.  The brand is the official technical partner to BMW Motorsport, which currently leads the American Le Mans Series. On two wheels, Dunlop riders were victorious in the 2011 Isle of Man TT races and have won the contract to supply the exciting new Moto3 world championship.

Farm tyre specialist

Goodyear Dunlop also announced the appointment of Neil Ford as farm tyre specialist, based at Tyrefort in Birmingham, and will be responsible for the East Midlands and Lincolnshire region. His role will be supporting customers from dealerships through to the end user in the field. Ford worked as truck sales account manager at Michelin for 11 years before moving to the position of agricultural account manager for the past four years.

Ford said: “I am ready for the fresh challenge which is presented by the new role of Farm Tyre Specialist at Goodyear Dunlop. I am confident that my great experience of all sides of the agricultural industry will mean that I will thrive in this new position.”

Phil Stanton, farm business manager said: “I am delighted to welcome Neil to the Farm team. I am confident that his experience in agriculture coupled with his extensive knowledge of the tyre industry will mean that he can greatly assist Goodyear Dunlop move forward in the market.”