Continental promotes Fischer to head Investor Relations
From 1 April 2022, Anna Fischer will take over as head of Continental’s Investor Relations department, reporting directly to chief financial officer Katja Dürrfeld. Fischer succeeds Bernard Wang, who has served in this capacity since early in 2019 and is leaving the technology company at his own request at the end of March 2022 due to personal reasons.
Continue ReadingBridgestone North (UK & Ireland) appoints David Almazán commercial business director
Bridgestone has appointed David Almazán as its new commercial business unit director for Bridgestone in the North Region. He fills the role vacated by Greg Ward, who left Bridgestone in January to become Halfords Autocentres commercial sales director. Almazán first joined Bridgestone in April 2016. He moves to the UK from Madrid, where he served as the company’s commercial business unit director for the South West Region, encompassing Spain and Portugal. He previously worked for MAN Trucks & Bus, initially as controlling manager and subsequently as trucks sales director for Spain. He will report to Andrea Manenti, Bridgestone’s North Region vice president, and will take responsibility for developing and executing Bridgestone’s commercial business strategy within the UK and Ireland.
Continue ReadingNTDA issues 8000th REACT licence
Four years after hitting 5000 licences and following an almost two-year interruption in training forced by Covid-19 restrictions, the NTDA Roadside Emergency Action Concerning Technicians (REACT) scheme passed the 8000-licence milestone on Monday 28 February Commercial Tyre Technician Stephen Fritter of Watling Tyre Service Ltd was issued with his certificate and Licence to Work Safely at the Roadside.
Continue ReadingTBC promotes Doster
North American aftermarket tyre distributor TBC Corporation (TBC) has promoted Geoff Doster to the position of president and chief operating officer for TBC Brands and TBC International. In his new role, Doster will oversee all TBC Brands and TBC International sales initiatives, including customer service, commercial tyre sales, equipment as well as non-tyre sales and operations.
Continue ReadingErnst Prost says goodbye with 1,000 gifts to workforce
Simply retiring quietly would not be in keeping with the style of Liqui Molys Managing Director Ernst Prost, so in a typical gesture, on his last day at work, 22 February 2022, he gave each of his 1000 colleagues a gift.
Continue ReadingMatteo Bonciani heading Pirelli’s motorsport communications
Pirelli has named former FIA head of F1 communications Matteo Bonciani its head of motorsport communications. In this role, Bonciani takes responsibility for communications throughout all the company’s motorsport programmes, including Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, and GT. Pirelli says Bonciani’s appointment as head of motorsport communications represents part of a restructuring of its motorsport department within the overall communications and brand image department.
Continue ReadingColmec names new CEO, head of sales
Swedish retreader and tyre distributor Colmec Group has appointed former vice-president Patrick Sjölin to the position of chief executive officer. He succeeds company owner Peter Eckerström, who will now support the organisation as a senior advisor and chairman of the board. At the same time, Mats-Johan Adner joins Colmec as its head of sales for all markets in which the company is present.
Continue ReadingAsahi Kasei appoints Kudo president
As of April 2022, Koshiro Kudo will assume the role of president of Asahi Kasei, with current president Hideki Kobori becoming the company’s chairman. Asahi Kasei states that with 40 years of corporate experience, the new president will “lead the company into a new century of its history” – the Japanese firm celebrates its 100th anniversary in May.
Continue ReadingBecker confirmed as TireHub CEO
The Board of Directors at TireHub, the USA-wide tyre distributor jointly founded by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Bridgestone Americas Inc., has named Ted Becker the company’s chief executive officer, effective immediately. This announcement confirms Becker in a role in which he has served in an interim capacity following the departure of Peter Gibbons from the company in October 2021.
Continue ReadingNew YOHT country manager for UK & Ireland
Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) has reported the appointment of Andrew Musgrave as its country manager for the UK and Ireland. Musgrave commenced in this role last November and leads the aftermarket business for the Alliance and Galaxy brands in these markets. He reports to Ole Baek, YOHT’s regional head Northern Europe and France.
Continue ReadingEVA accreditation scheme notches up 300 members
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Government-backed Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation scheme was developed in 2019 to encourage retailers to enhance their expertise in the electric vehicle sector and support consumer confidence as the market moves towards EVs. The EVA scheme is endorsed and subsidised by the Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and is independently audited by Energy Saving Trust. There are now more than 300 EVA accredited sites spread across the UK with “many more dealers in the pipeline…”
Continue ReadingPCL sales director retires after 17 years
PCL sales director, Simon Shorter is retiring from his role in charge of End User and OEM sales at PCL. Moving forward, Shorter plans to spend more time with his family as he looks forward to celebrating his 60th birthday. He also intends to continue his charity work and lecturing at Sheffield Hallam University.
Continue ReadingApprenticeships recovery too slow to fill skills gap – IMI
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has released data that suggests industry apprenticeship take-up is increasing, but too slowly to fill the sector’s current skills gap.
Continue ReadingGreg Ward joins Halfords
Greg Ward has joined the Halfords Autocentres business, where the experienced truck, bus and agricultural tyre specialist will be commercial sales director.
Continue ReadingPrinx Chengshan appoints Costache European sales director
Adrian Costache is the new sales director for the Austone, Fortune and Chengshan tyre brands in Europe. He began in this role on 1 February and reports directly to Thomas Wohlgemuth, managing director of Prinx Chengshan Tire Europe. As sales director, Costache is responsible for complete price management as well as European sales for both passenger car and commercial products.
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