Bridgestone Americas expands leadership roles

Bridgestone Corporation reports that its North and Latin American subsidiary is expanding several key leadership positions in order to strengthen its core tyre business and to accelerate the execution of its sustainable mobility solutions strategy. The changes will take effect 1 June.

Scott Damon, currently group president, operations, will take over the role of chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas from Paolo Ferrari. As COO, Damon will have responsibility for the company’s core tyre business, which includes the original equipment, replacement and retread tyre businesses for the Consumer, Commercial Truck and Bus, Off-the-Road (OTR), Ag and Latin America segments. In addition, Damon will retain responsibility for the company’s Manufacturing, LSCM, Quality and Procurement functions. This new organisational structure under Damon’s leadership will enhance enterprise prioritisation by aligning the core tyre business directly with the operational functions that support it.

Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer, will now serve as chief technology officer and group president, Solutions Businesses, Bridgestone Americas. In this expanded role, Trigui will have accountability for the company’s Mobility Solutions, IT and Circular Economy strategies, in addition to R&D, Technology and all Akron, Ohio-based operations. Aligning sustainability and mobility under Trigui’s leadership will create the synergy needed to drive these core strategies and advance the company’s digital innovation efforts.

Paolo Ferrari remains president and chief executive officer of Bridgestone Americas, as well as an executive vice-president and executive officer of Bridgestone Corporation.

New structure strikes the right balance

“As Bridgestone continues to grow its efforts in the areas of mobility solutions and sustainability, it is imperative we create the necessary alignment within Bridgestone Americas to effectively realise our goals locally and globally,” said Paolo Ferrari. “We have built a strong leadership team within Bridgestone Americas, and this new organisational structure strikes the right balance between execution on our core tyre business and the further development of our medium and long-term sustainable and mobility solutions platforms.”

New roles for Asbun & Schneider

To further promote alignment of resources and business enablers, Gabriel Asbun, currently group president, Americas Tire & Solutions Business, has been named group president, Integrated Businesses. In this new role, Asbun will have responsibility for Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO), Firestone Industrial Products and the company’s Credit First National Association (CFNA) consumer credit division.

Bridgestone Americas has named Craig Schneider its chief strategy officer. Schneider, who was instrumental in the recent sale of Firestone Building Products, will continue to support the company’s evolution through the global strategies outlined in the Bridgestone Mid-Long Term Business Plan, including shaping the portfolio, partnership development and all M&A activities.