Michael Eckert joins Kenda Tires Europe as senior sales manager
Kenda has strengthened its global team with two new appointments, bringing exceptional sales support to Europe and adding extensive engineering know-how to the Kenda European Technical Centre (KETC). Michael Eckert joins as senior sales manager, Engin Ünal as senior engineer, effective 1 August.
Continue ReadingContinental to expand restructuring programme to save 1 billion euros by 2023
Continental is expanding the restructuring programme it initiated in 2019. The company is adding further measures to cut costs and increase efficiency to its Transformation 2019-2029 programme. The tyre manufacturer wants to achieve gross annual savings of more than 1 billion euros by 2023. This is significantly more than previous targets – in fact more than doubling the initially quoted figure. In total it expects the changes to affect more than 30,000 jobs worldwide. Its workers in Conti’s domestic market in Germany will be the largest part, with 13,000 affected jobs. A further major proportion will be in countries with high labour costs. Conti says these jobs will be modified, relocated, or made redundant. Conti says the programme aims to ensure its viability and strengthen global competitiveness in the long term.
Continue ReadingGoodyear appoints Kate Norton sales general manager commercial UK & Ireland
Goodyear has appointed Kate Norton sales general manager commercial UK & Ireland. She assumes the role after a decade-long career with Goodyear. Most recently she was head of sales capability Europe. Goodyear states that Norton has extensive knowledge of the industry. She has previously managed some of the company’s largest consumer accounts in the UK, bringing strong sales coaching skills to support the ongoing development of the commercial team.
Continue ReadingKordsa appoints chief operating officer for APAC
Global tyre construction, reinforcement, and composites technology supplier Kordsa has appointed İbrahim Özgür Yıldırım as chief operating officer for the Asia-Pacific region. Yıldırım will replace Zeki Kanadıkırık, who steps down after five years in the position, as of 1 September 2020.
Continue ReadingCarlton Forest Group appoints Scott Robson financial director
Carlton Forest Group has appointed a new financial director as it enters the next phase of its growth strategy. Scott Robson has joined the waste to energy company, home to the UK’s only continuous tyre pyrolysis plant. Originally from Leeds, Robson has a global career in director level finance roles. “We extend a very warm welcome to Scott and look forward to working with him as our portfolio of business continue their exciting growth phrases and strategic diversification,” said Mark Pepper, CEO, Carlton Forest Group Holdings. “He joins our driven and dynamic senior team and we know that he will have a long and successful career with us.”
Continue ReadingTytti Bergman leaves Nokian Tyres
As of 24 August, Tytti Bergman is no longer Nokian Tyres’ senior vice president, People and Culture. The tyre maker shares that Bergman has left the company “to pursue other career opportunities.” Tarja Kaipio, vice president, Human Resources, has stepped into the position on an interim basis until a permanent successor is appointed.
Continue ReadingBridgestone EMIA announces changes to sales leadership structure
Bridgestone EMIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) is shuffling its sales leadership structure. Taking effect on 1 September, the changes of vice presidential roles coincide with the departure of Mirella Cielo, who will become president consumer replacement tire sales, US and Canada, Bridgestone Americas. The EMIA division stated that Cielo “has been instrumental within Bridgestone EMIA’s consumer replacement organisation throughout her three years in the business.”
Continue ReadingHankook Tyre UK appoints David Block national accounts manager
Hankook Tyre UK has appointed David Block as national accounts manager. Block has more than 20 years’ experience in the tyre industry. He will work to develop sales of Hankook car and light truck tyres in the UK. Hankook states that Block’s extensive experience in various tyre industry positions will allow him to “provide an added value of customer service, whilst building and strengthening his customer base.”
Continue ReadingMagna Tyres appoints US sales manager
Establishing offices in Canada and the USA last year have helped Magna Tyres Group gain a foothold in the North American off-highway tyre market, and the company reports demand for its products “rising rapidly” since the US office opened its doors in September 2019. A new sales manager now joins this office. Ryan Cusick has come on board to help Magna Tyres “focus even more on the brand presence, the distribution network and relationship with current and new customers.”
Continue ReadingRuss Stebbins named GM of Sensata’s aftermarket business
Sensata Technologies, the company behind the Schrader TPMS equipment brand, has appointed Russ Stebbins general manager of the Global Aftermarket business unit. He brings more than 25 years of automotive experience to his new role, including positions with well-known brands such as TRW, Lumileds, and Akebono Brake Corporation in the past decade.
Continue ReadingBridgestone names new Latin America tyre business chief
Charlie Rule is the new head of Bridgestone’s tyre business in Latin America. As of this month, he succeeds Joseph Saoud as president, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Latin America (BATO LA). Rule’s remit includes overseeing Bridgestone’s tyre business in the Latin America region, including full P&L responsibility, including dotted line responsibility for manufacturing, and will continue to lead Category Strategy, Product Planning, Marketing Branding and Marketing Communications in the region.
Continue ReadingEx-Cooper CFO Eperjesy joins Clarios
Chris Eperjesy has parted ways with Cooper Tire & Rubber after serving as the tyre maker’s chief financial officer for the past year and a half, and starting today has taken on a comparable role at Clarios. As CFO, Eperjesy will support the former Johnson Controls International battery business’s global growth objectives in “delivering smart energy storage solutions.”
Continue ReadingCliff Jones retires after 51 Years at Rema Tip Top
In April 2020, Cliff Jones, managing director Rema Tip Top Automotive UK Limited celebrated 51 years with the company. Cliff Jones began life at Rema Tip Top in 1969 as a fledgling sales representative selling tyre repair materials to the bicycle and automotive trade. Having previously served as a TV engineer apprentice studying radio theory and techniques, he spent five years in the Merchant Navy. Perhaps this experience with people from all walks of life in his formative years is where he found the endearing manner and natural way with people he is known for.
Continue ReadingUSTMA board names two new members, McClellan’s tenure as chair extended
The US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has elected two new members to its board. Kumho Tire’s Yong-Sik Shin and Pirelli’s Pietro Berardi were elected during the board’s 29 July virtual meeting. The board also extended the term of current chair Steve McClellan, president, Americas, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, for an additional year through to October 2021.
Continue ReadingTecAlliance’s Peter Hollowood retires
TecAlliances Peter Hollowood has retired from an illustrious career in the automotive industry. Hollowood had worked for TecAlliance for more than 20 years, having previously run his own parts distribution business in Cheshire. Before this he held sales roles at CCI Triad (now Epicor). Mark Rudge is set to take up the mantle on an ongoing basis, assuming responsibility for TecAlliance Order Manager in the UK and Ireland, alongside his existing remit as eparts director at Fourth.
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