Versarien plc, the AIM-listed the advanced materials engineering group, announced on 7 January that it has appointed Dr Stephen Hodge as the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Dr Hodge joined the company’s board with immediate effect.
Mike Leedham has been appointed as the new off-the-road (OTR) Sales Manager for Continental Tyre Group. Leedham will be responsible for developing Continental’s OTR business in the UK and Ireland, as the company continues the development of its earthmover tyres, launched to the market in 2016.
Kumho Tire has appointed Gangseung ‘Tony’ Lee as senior vice president of Global Marketing, effective 1 January 2021.
Pre-Q Galgo Corporation has hired Ron Elliott to be its marketing manager in North America. In his role, Elliot will be responsible for leading the marketing direction of the long-term growth strategy for the Pre-Q Galgo brand throughout the United States and Canada.
Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Pty) Ltd (SRSA), manufacturer of the Dunlop, Sumitomo and Falken tyre brands for the African continent, has announced the appointment of Lubin Ozoux as its new CEO and Executive Director of SRSA effective 1 January 2021. Ozoux will take over the role from outgoing CEO, Riaz Haffejee who has led the company for the past eight years. Haffejee will remain with the company until the 31 January 2021 to “ensure a smooth transition”.
Continental AG has appointed Nikolai Setzer (49) as its new executive board chairman until March 2024, effective 1 December 2020. He succeeds Dr. Elmar Degenhart (61), who is stepping down for health reasons, effective 30 November 2020. Setzer is widely seen as a safe pair of hands for the company who has been prepared for the position for years.
Reija Laaksonen has been appointed Nokian Tyres’ new Head of Global Marketing starting 9 November 2020. She reports to Andrei Pantioukhov, executive vice president and member of Nokian Tyres’ management team.
PCL has welcomed a new Area Sales Manager for the South of England to its team. According to the inflation specialist manufacturer, Steve Nolan brings extensive experience within the motor industry to his new role, having worked on key automotive accounts dealing with distributors and end users, and covering national trade shows and conferences.
Nationwide Fleet Services (NFS) has appointed a new national sales manager for the UK and Ireland, with the appointment of 38-year-old Ricky Mitchell to the role national sales manager effective from October 2020.
Apollo Tyres has appointed Hizmy Hassen to the newly-created position of Chief Digital Officer (CDO). Hassen will be based at the company’s London office, and will be responsible for leading the strategy and operations of Apollo Tyres’ digital journey, including responsibility for Information Technology. Hizmy Hassen will report to Neeraj Kanwar, vice chairman and MD, Apollo Tyres Ltd.
Effective immediately, Anna Hyvönen, SVP Nordics and Vianor and member of Nokian Tyres Management Team, has been appointed SVP North America, Nordics and Vianor. The shift was precipitated by the departure of Mark Earl, who had been Nokian Tyres SVP Americas, who has decided to leave the company to “pursue other career opportunities”. Tommi Heinonen, Head of Sales, North America, will start reporting to Anna Hyvönen.
Norwegian tyre recycling startup Wastefront, has appointed Maria Moræus Hanssen as its chairperson. Heading up Wastefront’s board, Hanssen brings international experience from top-level positions within oil, gas and energy companies such as Hydro, Equinor, Aker and Engie. She has served as a board member of multiple Scandinavian industry leading companies – including Det norske oljeselskap ASA, Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA, and Yara International – over the past twenty years, with current, active board member positions at Alfa Laval, Scatec Solar and Oslo Bygg. She was previously deputy CEO and COO at Europe’s leading oil and gas company, Wintershall DEA. Wastefront has also announced its first £25 million tyre recycling facility will be built in the UK.
Wheely-Safe has appointed Peter Hatton as its new sales manager. The new role has been created as the technology business prepares to expand its range of intelligent TPMS, wheel loss and brake temperature sensing systems with a new generation of products. Hatton, 48, joins the company from Continental Tyres where he was most recently truck retread and casing manager. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in the automotive sector for nearly 30 years.
Frank Petznick (49) will take over the management of Continental AG’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business unit and become a member of the Management Board of the Autonomous Mobility and Safety business area on 1 August 2020.
Dutchman Edwin van der Stad has been appointed as vice president OE Europe at Nexen Tire. Van der Stad brings 30 years of experience and premium level OE management with him to the Korean tyre manufacturer. Prior to joining Nexen, van der Stad spent many years with Bridgestone. Van der Stad’s new role took effect in March.
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Continental
Kumho
Pre-Q Galgo
Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Continental
Nokian Tyres
PCL
Nationwide Fleet Services 
Apollo Tyres
Nokian Tyres
Christian Fredrik Wesenberg
Wheely-Safe
Continental
Nexen