Michelin UK appoints new agricultural technical manager

Gordon Brookes, 53, has returned to Michelin’s agricultural division in Stoke-on-Trent, taking over the role of technical manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland from Laurent Mozziconacci. Brookes started his career in the early 1980s running his own company building racing and rally cars. He joined Michelin in 1987 as a multi-product line sales manager and after six years he moved into the agricultural division, where he spent three years, before progressing into the OE and wholesale side of the agricultural department.

Brookes’ Michelin career then took a change of direction as he joined the truck division in 2006, looking after the tyre requirements of some of the company’s biggest customers, including Eddie Stobart, Gist and Morrisons.  For the last five years he has lead the original equipment side of the truck division as OE sales manager, dealing with commercial vehicle manufacturers and importers in the UK.

Speaking about his new appointment, Brookes says: “When this opportunity came up, I thought it was too good to miss.  I have a long history with Michelin and an extensive background and interest in agriculture specifically.”

Brookes’ new role will see him reporting to Mike Lawton, commercial director of Michelin’s agricultural division. He will manage all the technical elements of Michelin’s agricultural product range, dealing with tyres for a wide range of farm machinery from tractors to combine harvesters, and sprayers to telehandlers.

Brookes added: “I want to work with customers to show them the advantages of using the latest technology products to lower tyre pressures in the field, which will in turn improve tyre and soil performance, save fuel, and increase yields.”

Mozziconacci returns to Clermont-Ferrand in France to take up his new position as Off Road Tyre Specialist within the truck tyre division.