Analysts: Delticom profit warning a reflection of European tyre market weakness
Delticom issue a profit warning (19 July 2012) after revenues and pre-tax profits (EBIT) came in below expectations. As a result the company reduced its full-year growth target from +10 per cent to +5 per cent year-on-year and stated that an EBIT margin above 9 per cent (compared with 6.9 per cent in the first half of 2012 and 9.4 per cent in the first half of 2011) is only attainable in the event of a good winter tyre season prompted by wintery weather.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Ohashi, Takeda swap jobs
Amongst a raft of personnel changes announced by Bridgestone on 20 July is one affecting former Bridgestone Europe CEO and president Makio Ohasi. The ex-Bridgestone Europe boss has held the post of vice-president and officer of the company’s Asia Pacific, China, Middle East, Africa and Russia Tire Business Operations division since the start of the year, and concurrently served as a director within the division. Effective 1 September, Ohasi will relinquish these roles and take on the position of vice-president, officer and chief quality officer Specialty Tire Business.
Continue ReadingConti's Roger Sanders to retire
Roger Sanders has announced his retirement after nearly 30 years with Continental. Sanders entered the tyre industry in 1965 to become one of Dunlop’s first ever apprentices. He subsequently joined its motorsport division, where he progressed to become Dunlop’s youngest ever manager and technical expert, specialising in motorcycle tyres. He will leave the position of general manager of the tyre manufacturer’s Technical Services division, UK and Ireland.
Continue ReadingConti recruits ex-Bridgestone man to head UK Technical Services
Continental has announced the appointment of Steve Howat to the role of general manager in the tyre manufacturer’s Technical Services division, UK and Ireland. Howat joins from Bridgestone, where he held the position of European Training Manager, delivering extensive technical, business and sales training to the company’s customers and staff across Europe. Having joined Continental on 1 June, he will replace respected industry expert Roger Sanders, who is retiring this year after nearly 30 years’ service with the company.
Continue ReadingGiTi names Peter Foulkes European commercial tyres director
Peter Foulkes has been promoted to the position of marketing director Europe - Commercial Tires at GiTi Tire. According to the company, Foulkes has played a leading role in the rapid expansion of GT Radial and Primewell sales in the European truck and bus tyre market.
Continue ReadingPeter Becker appointed head of Kumho’s European R&D
Former Apollo Vredestein head of R&D, Peter Becker, has taken on the role of research and development director at Kumho Tyres. Becker’s key task in his new position is the setting up of Kumho’s European Technical Center in Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany, the tyre maker’s replacement for its now-closed centre in Birmingham. The 53-year old will lead Kumho Tyres’ activities in the areas of tyre technology, research and product development and work closely with Kumho’s design teams in Korea, China and North America. The team working under Becker will focus on developing optimal products for the European replacement and original equipment markets.
Continue ReadingEmin Ozkan new MD of Goodyear Turkey
The Goodyear Lastikleri Board announces the appointment of Emin Ozkan as managing director Goodyear Lastikleri TAS, Turkey, effective 30 July 2012, reporting to the board of Goodyear Lastikleri TAS.
Continue ReadingStamford Tyres announces 6.7% sales growth
Stamford Tyres Corporation Limited recently announced its financials for the year ended 30 April 2012. They reveal that the company experienced a 6.7 per cent increase in sales to S$364.1 million growth across all key markets.
Continue ReadingATS Euromaster appoints Tye, Zaal for “next phase” of growth
Tyre, fast-fit and service, maintenance and repair (SMR) specialist, ATS Euromaster has appointed Peter Tye to the role of Group Operations director – Retail, and Columba Zaal as Group Operations director – Comprehensive. The company describes the appointments it’s a restructuring of its senior operations team, with Tye and Zaal replacing former Group Operations director Chris Hufflett, who has left ATS-E “to pursue opportunities outside the tyre industry”, according to the company. Tye has a strong record with franchises, joining the company having held senior franchise and operational roles within the Volkswagen Group at Audi and SEAT, and more recently at Goodyear Dunlop, where he was responsible for the development and growth of the HiQ franchise network from 20 to 150 sites. Zaal joined ATS-E in July 2009 on the retail side of the Group’s Operations; his new role will shift his focus to the commercial vehicle side of the business.
Continue ReadingContinental creates fleet departments with truck tyre unit appointments
Continental will aim to support its fleet business with the creation of two new independent departments to oversee the areas of Fleet Support and Truck Tyre Marketing across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), focussing specifically on its Conti360° Fleet Services. The company has appointed Martin Burdorf to take charge of fleet management, while Barry Guildford will become the new marketing chief. Both will report directly to Herbert Mensching, director of Marketing and Sales Truck Tyres EMEA.
Continue ReadingMitas appoints CFO
Off-road tyre manufacturer Mitas has appointed Vladimir Rada its new chief financial officer. Rada is a Czech national who has worked at AcelorMittal Distribution Solutions since 2007 in various finance and controlling related positions. In addition, interim CFO Marek Beran has been appointed head of central logistics, while Mitas’ US investment director Vladimir Dusanek has moved to Prague to oversee central controlling.
Continue ReadingHigh prices and low costs benefit manufacturers
High sales prices matched with lower input costs are combining to the benefit of tyre manufacturers. A report from Deutsche Bank analysts notes that, despite weak tyre volumes in the European replacement markets (-10 per cent in passenger tyres, -30 per cent in truck tyres) tyre companies are benefitting from a strong pricing effect (+4 per cent to +5 per cent) and from low raw material prices.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Americas appoints new CIO
Bridgestone Americas recently announced that Tim Walsh, who previously served as Bridgestone Americas corporate controller, has been named chief information officer for the company. Walsh will be responsible for overall leadership of Bridgestone’s IT function, including making enhancements to the company’s IT organisation and overseeing strategy and implementation to ensure efficient delivery of IT services.
Continue ReadingNew sales manager for Cooper Tire France
Hubert Plouchart has joined the French subsidiary of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe. Holding a BTS in Management and a Masters in Business and Marketing from ESSEC, Plouchart was formerly head of National Sales of the glass repair department at Speedy France.
Continue ReadingGilbert takes on US commercial sales at Kumho
Kumho Tire U.S.A. has appointed Ron Gilbert its new director of Commercial Tire Sales. In his new position, Gilbert will head up the tyre maker’s truck and bus radial sector.
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