Senior Goodyear appointments named

New blood has been injected into Goodyear’s North American leadership. John F. “Jack” Winterton has been appointed president of the company’s North American Tire consumer business unit and Phillip Kane has taken over as vice-president of the Goodyear’s North American Tire commercial tyre business. Both appointments, Goodyear comments, are effective immediately and intended to “continue the positive momentum in the company’s North American Tire business.”

Winterton fills the berth made vacant by Steve McClellan, who was promoted to president of Goodyear North American Tire in August 2011. “I am very pleased that Jack will lead our North American consumer business,” said McClellan.  “Nobody can match his combination of Goodyear experience, industry knowledge and customer perspective.  As one of the architects of our North American consumer business strategy, he will drive execution within our brand-focused, market-back approach and map our plan for the future.  Jack is absolutely the right person to lead us in 2012 and beyond.”

The 58-year old has worked in Goodyear’s North American Tire business for his entire career. Most recently, he served as chief customer officer for Goodyear’s North American Tire consumer business, a role he took over in December 2008. Prior roles include vice president of consumer tyre sales (2003-2008) and director of dealer sales, consumer tyres (2002-2003). Since 2002, Winterton has helped develop and execute the strategic direction for Goodyear’s North American Tire consumer business, which shifted its focus to producing and selling innovative, high-value branded products in targeted market segments.

Kane succeeds Joe Copeland, who announced he will leave the company. For the past year, the 47-year old has been president of Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems, Goodyear’s nationwide network of on-highway commercial tyre sales, service, and retread facilities. Kane has spent his entire career in businesses related to the automotive and trucking industries.  He joined Goodyear in 2004 as director of strategic initiatives before moving to director of North American Tire’s consumer wholesale distribution channel. He was promoted to senior director, channel sales in December 2008 before moving to his most recent role leading the Wingfoot operation.

“Phillip has built outstanding relationships with our commercial truck tire customers, and I look forward to him taking our industry leading fleet business solutions model to new levels of performance,” McClellan continued. “Both Phillip and Jack are driven by Goodyear’s strategic objective of creating sustainable economic value.”

Winteron’s old position has been tweaked to become the newly-created role of vice-president, consumer operations and customer development. This position has been filled by Ryan Patterson, formerly finance director for Goodyear’s North American Tire consumer business. While in that role, Patterson expanded his scope of responsibilities, aligning business performance goals and measures with operations, production, marketing, and sales.  Prior to joining the North American team, Patterson worked in finance roles of increasing responsibility in the company’s Latin American Tire business. “Ryan’s knowledge of our operations and his value in all areas across the consumer business will help our customers continue to grow in alignment with our North American strategy and objectives,” said McClellan.  

Paul Wanstreet has been named to replace Kane as president of Wingfoot. Wanstreet, 54, returns to a leadership role at Wingfoot, where he previously served as vice-president of operations for two years through 2009.  Most recently, he was head of operations for Goodyear’s consumer retail business. “Paul has leadership experience at Wingfoot and has been building his business skills while working in our consumer retail operation,” McClellan commented. “I have full confidence that Wingfoot will continue to perform very well under Paul’s guidance.”

In announcing these personnel changes, McClellan also expressed thanks to Copeland for his leadership during his tenure in North American Tire. “Joe made important contributions to several businesses at Goodyear, providing leadership in the face of some significant challenges.  We thank him for his contributions and wish him success in the future.”