Corey Parks succeeds Robert Foord as Kal Tire president
Robert Foord is transitioning to the role of executive vice-chair of the board after 15 years as president of Kal Tire and 37 years with the company his father founded. Corey Parks assumed the role of president effective 1 March 2024.
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Former Cooper Avon managers James Weekley, Matthew Vincent join Nova Motorsport team
Nova Motorsport has continued its recruitment of former Cooper Avon managers previously based at the companys erstwhile European headquarters in Melksham. James Weekley, former general manager at Avon Tyres Motorsport, leads Nova Motorsport as commercial director. Ex-Cooper Tire/Avon Motorsport product technology manager Matthew Vincent has also become Novas senior product category manager. The two appointees join Paul Coates, Cooper Tire/Avon Motorsport general manager, whose appointment was previously announced, and who has become Novas contracts manager. The experienced team has been assembled by founder and managing director of the brand’s parent company, SPC Group, Paul Hallas.
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Autotech Group announces new leadership structure
Last September Autotech Group founder Gavin White revealed his brain tumour diagnosis. Now commenting that he is continuing treatment and “doctors remain pleased with my progress”, at that time, White also announced that succession plans for Autotech Group, due for implementation in 2024, would be accelerated. Now, the Autotech Group has announced that Simon King has been formally appointed to the position of company CEO and an executive team has been implemented.
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GRI appoints former Conti leader Barry Guildford global commercial director
Speciality and agricultural tyre manufacturer GRI has appointed Barry Guildford as its new global commercial director (GCD). The appointment bolsters the company’s increasingly international leadership team as the Sri Lanka based company proceeds with its global growth strategy. Guildford arrives with a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in strategic leadership and sales management roles within the tyre industry over the last 23 years. He has held a variety of leadership positions within Continental, most recently as head of region Northeast Europe & head of sales ContiTrade. He joined GRI officially on 1 March. GRI has made significant strides in integrating sustainable materials in its flagship tyres in the last year, and demonstrated its leading sustainability position and expanding manufacturing base in Sri Lanka to Tyres & Accessories – see Tyrepress next week for more details.
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Automotive apprenticeship starts in England rise for first time since pandemic
According to new analysis from the automotive industry’s professional body, the IMI, the first quarter of the current academic year saw a significant milestone in automotive apprenticeships. With the highest number of new enrolments since before the Covid-19 pandemic, starts have seen a 9 per cent rise compared to the 2022-23 academic year. “This uplift indicates a renewed interest in both the automotive sector generally and apprenticeships as an entry route, both of which are critical to build the talent pipeline for the future”, explained Emma Carrigy, Research Manager at the IMI.
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Bridgestone reorganises management structure, instates EMEA region
Bridgestone has detailed a number of organisational changes to its global management structure that went into effect at the start of 2024. Tyrepress reported the company’s promotion of Central Europe managing director Christian Mühlhäuser to vice president of the North Europe region on 22 February. The creation of Mühlhäuser’s new role is part of the transition from Bridgestone EMIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) to the newly created Bridgestone EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Core Tyre Business Unit. Bridgestone told Tyrepress that the changes have been made “as part of move to further strengthen the global management structure.”
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One retirement, two appointments at Hankook Tyre UK
Mark Eatwell has succeeded Chris Baxter as Technical Services Manager at Hankook Tyre UK. Baxter retired on 31 January, bringing a 43-year career within the tyre industry to a close. The company has also appointed Mark Hutchinson its PCR Regional Sales Manager for the Midlands.
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Bridgestone names Mühlhäuser VP North Europe
Christian Mühlhäuser, Managing Director of Bridgestone Central Europe since July 2019, has taken on additional responsibilities at the tyre maker. From today he is also acting as Vice President North Europe within Bridgestone EMEA.
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Sindermann expands EMEA truck tyre remit at Goodyear; Weber assumes DACH role
Goodyear has appointed Maximilian Weber to lead its truck tyre sales in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As Sales General Manager Commercial DACH, Weber continues a career with Goodyear that began in 2008 and has seen him take on roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Sales General Manager Consumer for Goodyear’s car tyre business in the Benelux region.
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Andrew Reitzner joins ZC Rubber as UK national sales manager
Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) has appointed Andrew Reitzner its national sales manager for the UK. Reitzner began in this role on 1 February and takes responsibility for the TBR & PCR portfolio of products with existing importers whilst looking at the UK market for new partners for ZC’s further brand portfolio.
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Darren Lindsey to head BTMA
Graham Willson is retiring as Chief Executive of the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association at the end of April, and the BTMA board has named Darren Lindsey his successor. Lindsey, who is commercial product director at Michelin Tyre PLC, brings more than 25 years of experience in national and international missions and a wealth of industry knowledge to his new function.
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Inoue to head Toyo Tires’ Asia & Oceania Sales Division
Toyo Tire Corporation has appointed Koichi Inoue general manager of its Asia & Oceania Sales Division, effective 1 April 2024. Inoue joins the tyre maker from Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation, where he served as the division’s chief executive.
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Kumho appoints Tim Dougherty TBR national sales manager
Tim Dougherty has taken on the role of TBR national sales manager at Kumho Tyre UK. He joins the company from Bridgestone, where he served as sales manager, and brings with him nearly 30 years of tyre experience, all in the truck tyre sector.
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moveero appoints global IT director
moveero has appointed Rich Bevan to the position of Global IT Director. Bevan joined moveero in 2018 as Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer, having spent his earlier career working in various senior roles - including IT operations specialist, and systems manager.
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Apollo Tyres appoints new sales manager in France
Apollo Tyres has appointed Olivier Pataud as country sales manager for France. He succeeds Francois Hien, who becomes the company’s new “head of customer experience projects” operating across all of the company’s product groups in France. Pataud joined Apollo Tyres last year as a key account manager for the Passenger Car Tyre division.
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