Cooper Tire board elects new treasurer

Tom Lause, currently controller – global operations at Cooper Tire & Rubber, has succeeded Brad Hughes as the company’s treasurer. He also assumes responsibility for the tax function at Cooper as part of this position. These new duties will be carried out alongside Lause’s existing role until a successor for the position of controller – global operations is appointed.

“We offer our congratulations to Tom on being elected treasurer,” said Cooper chairman, chief executive officer and president Roy Armes. “Tom has been with Cooper for more than three decades, and throughout his career he has demonstrated strong business and financial expertise, as well as effective leadership of financial teams throughout the organisation on a global basis. We appreciate Tom’s many contributions and look forward to his continued service to the company as treasurer.”

Lause joined Cooper in 1983 and served in a variety of accounting and planning roles until 1987 when he was appointed senior budget analyst. In 1988, Lause was named controller of Cooper’s Texarkana, Arkansas plant, and two years later was named administrative manager for the company, a position he held for nearly a decade. Lause became director, finance, for Cooper-Avon Tyres in 1999, and three years later was promoted to vice-president, tyre group controller. He was appointed to his current position in 2002. Lause holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s of business administration degree (MBA) from Bowling Green State University.

In addition to serving as treasurer, Brad Hughes has been Cooper Tire’s chief financial officer since 2009, and in July 2014 was chosen to lead all of Cooper’s operations outside of the Americas in the role of president – international operations. He will step down as chief financial officer once a suitable successor has been appointed.