Shimazaki to become chairman of Bridgestone (China) Investment
As of 1 September, Mitsuhira Shimazaki will take over as chairman of Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd., while retaining his position as deputy chairman of Bridgestone Americas Inc. Koji Kajiwara, incumbent chairman of Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd., will retire from this role and that of deputy chairman of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. on 1 September. From that date, he will act as an advisor to Bridgestone Corporation.
Continue ReadingNew president for Bridgestone’s North American retail operation
Joe Venezia is the new president of Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO), the subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas responsible for the company’s 2,200+ outlet tyre and automotive service network. He began in this role on 19 June and brings more than 20 years of consumer goods and retail experience to Bridgestone.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire America appoints new president
Hosung Suh has been named president of Hankook Tire America Corp. and will assume the position on 1 July. Announcing his appointment, Hankook Tire comments that Suh’s vast strategic planning experience at Hankook and in previous roles with companies in the US and Korea will allow him to grow Hankook Tire’s presence in the American market.
Continue ReadingApollo’s truck tyre ambitions buoyed by new UK appointments
Two sales appointments at Apollo Vredestein UK will support Apollo Tyres’ recent entry into the European truck and bus tyre market. The newly-created roles of TBR Fleet Sales Engineer have, with immediate effect, been filled by Andrew Beckett and Jane Emson.
Continue ReadingRick Alonzo joins YTC as senior director of supply chain & logistics
Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) has announced that Rick Alonzo has joined the company as senior director of supply chain and logistics. He will report to YTC chief operating officer, Jeff Barna.
Continue ReadingKajiwara to head Bridgestone’s tyre business in Japan
As of 1 September, Koji Kajiwara will take over responsibility for Bridgestone Corporation’s Japan Tire Business, and additionally become assistant to the company’s senior vice-president. Kajiwara is currently deputy chairman of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. and concurrently chairman of Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
Continue ReadingTyresure launches IMI TPMS training programme at Automechanika
During the recent Automechanika exhibition Tyresure launched its latest training opportunity – an IMI-accredited specialist TPMS course. According to the company, this training is being offered to customers in the UK first and is targeting key distributors and wholesalers in the first instance. Company representatives explained that the course features both theory and practical elements and is about servicing as much as training.
Continue ReadingRichard Collyer joins Launch UK
Launch UK, the UK supplier of automotive diagnostics equipment, has appointed Richard Collyer in the role of product and equipment specialist, bringing a wealth of aftermarket experience to the established brand. Collyer’s primary role will be to market, demonstrate and sell Launch’s ATF 501S, a device to clean and maintain the entire transmission system easily and quickly.
Continue ReadingFi McMartin promoted at Bickers
Fi McMartin has been named as the new East Anglia area sales manager at parts and accessories distributor, Bickers. Fi has been part of the McMartin family business since 2011. In her new role as the area sales manager in East Anglia, Fi will be joining a team of area managers in the UK.
Continue ReadingMichelin launches 2017 Tyre Academy
A 16-strong group of tyre dealership staff have taken part in the first Michelin Tyre Academy programme of 2017 – a dedicated training course aimed at members of the Michelin Auto Professional network develop the next generation of expert technicians. Michelin held two launch events, with seven delegates from dealerships in the north of England, Wales and Northern Ireland invited to the Michelin Training Centre in Stoke-on-Trent for the first module, and nine from dealers across the south hosted at Gatwick’s Copthorne Hotel, where they met with Michelin’s technical training team.
Continue ReadingContinental appoints 2 field engineers for CST business
A return to the agricultural tyre market is imminent, and Continental is preparing for its range’s market launch with the appointment of a new field engineer. Harm-Hendrik Lange began in this newly-created role within the Continental Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) team on 1 June. A second newly-created appointment focuses on the earthmoving tyre business, which Continental returned to last year. Matthias Engelhardt is now the field engineer responsible for CST’s earthmoving tyre customers.
Continue ReadingMartin named SEMA chairman-elect
At the start of June Tim Martin from K&N Engineering was elected SEMA’s chairman-elect and will help the SEMA board of directors lead the association for the 2017–2019 term. Martin fills the position held for the past two years by Wade Kawasaki of the Coker Group, who will begin serving his term as chairman in July. James Lawrence from Power Automedia was also voted onto the SEMA board of directors, and Greg Adler from Transamerican Auto Parts was re-elected, and will serve another term.
Continue ReadingMichelin cuts jobs in France and the US
Michelin has announced plans to significantly reorganise globally, resulting in significant job losses in France and the US most of which will be covered by natural attrition. In the United States 450 jobs in central functions are to be cut between 2018 and 2021. According to Michelin, 1,500 employees would actually leave the company in the same period, suggesting a large majority will result from natural attrition and retirement.
Continue ReadingGiti appoints senior regional sales manager for UK truck and bus operations
Giti Tire has promoted Craig Tominey to senior regional sales manager for its UK truck and bus (TBR) operations. He will take up the role while maintaining his position as area sales manager (ASM) for Scotland. Giti adds that Tominey, who joined Giti in April 2013 from BSUK, will support the company’s five ASMs around the country while having greater input into strategy with senior management and the office-based sales team. He will report directly to Tony McHugh, TBR sales and marketing director UK at Giti Tire.
Continue ReadingNTDA: accreditation scheme widening to include other tyre segments
Since the launch of the Roadside Emergency Action Concerning Technicians (REACT) scheme in 2011 more than 4000 commercial tyre technicians have registered with the NTDA been trained, assessed as competent and issued with a Licence to Work Safely at the Roadside across the UK and, more recently, the Republic of Ireland.
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