Yokohama Tire names new COO for North America

As of 16 January, Jeff Barna joins Yokohama Rubber’s North American business as chief operating officer. In his new role at Yokohama Tire Corporation, Bara will report to company president Shinichi Takimoto and be responsible for sales, marketing and product planning functions. Barna will also be a member of Yokohama Tire Corporation’s executive committee.

According to Hideto Katsuragawa, chief executive officer of both Yokohama Corporation of North America and Yokohama Tire Corporation, “Jeff is another strategic investment in the future of Yokohama Tire Corporation in the American market, like our modern manufacturing plant in Mississippi, new and upgraded distribution centres, new R&D technical centre in North Carolina, stream of new products in the consumer, commercial and OTR space, and commitment to expanded OE partnerships.”

Takimoto praised Barna’s extensive experience in the auto aftermarket business. “Jeff sold a range of products to many of the same high-quality companies that Yokohama sells to,” he said. “Jeff will work closely with our team to strengthen Yokohama and make us more valuable to our business partners. His experience starting at the street level of the auto parts business, to broader areas of responsibility, and right up to the board rooms of multi-national companies is a perfect match for today’s competitive business climate and our lean team.”

Prior to joining Yokohama, Barna held a number of management, sales and logistics positions, most recently at Nilfisk-Advance Inc., an international company in the professional cleaning products and service industry. Prior to that he served at battery manufacturer Exide Technologies.