PERSONNEL
Nokian Tyres’ president and CEO Ari Lehtoranta has resigned in order to “pursue new opportunities outside of Nokian Tyres”. According to the company, Lehtoranta will continue in his present position until the end of 2016. Lehtoranta only joined Nokian in May 2014 and will be remembered for his decision to own up to company’s magazine tyre test manipulation in February 2016.
The International Rubber Study Group, IRSG has named Salvatore Pinizzotto as its new secretary general. Pinizzotto will officially take up the post on 1 January 2017 at the end of the tenure of Dr Stephen Evans.
Mobile tyre fitting specialist Tyres on the Drive has appointed Andy Murray as its chief operations officer. Murray has 22 years’ experience in managing and directing commercial operations for blue chip companies. Tyres on the Drive said he would strengthen the business’ functionality to ensure it is efficiently scalable as the organisation continues to grow.
RH Claydon Ltd are pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Gooch as business development manager for East Anglia and the South East.
Gooch brings with him over 30 years’ experience in the tyre industry. After beginning with Goodyear, he worked with Semperit and Continental, selling their full range of products in the East and South East of the UK.
Vipal has appointed Leandro Rigon as the retreading materials and supplies manufacturer’s new international business director.
Rigon has been part of the Vipal team for over 20 years. He began his career in the company as a technician in the Brazilian market in 1995. With a degree in sales and marketing, he also has more than 15 years’ experience in the international market
Goodyear reports that Joe Zekoski has succeeded Gregory Smith as senior vice president of global operations effective 17 August 2016, according to a regulatory filing published by Goodyear.
Smith was hired by Goodyear in September 2011 for the global operations position and will leave the company on 15 December 2016.
Giti Tire has appointed Torsten Gehrmann (45) to the new position of senior managing director – Europe. Confirming the departure of former managing director – Europe Corrado Moglia, Gehrmann said, “we thank Corrado for the work he performed for the company.” Since September 2015 Moglia had split the European MD role with Stefan Fischer following the resignation of Richard Lyons. Fischer will continue in his existing position as managing director – Europe for Product Technology and R&D Centre Europe.
RMI Bodyshops (NAB & VBRA) is urging the government to review its recently released funding levels for the new trailblazer apprenticeships. Jason Moseley, RMI Bodyshops Director commented: “the new funding rates proposed fall concerningly short of those needed to deliver a robust and quality apprenticeship programme. The proposed rates do not cover the funding required for equipment, tools, products and teaching resource to deliver these programmes.
Giti Tire managing director Corrado Moglia has left the company after 10 years in a variety of management roles at the world’s ninth largest tyre manufacturer.
MG Motor UK, has accepted seven new students onto its Automotive Engineering Internship programme for 2016/17. Open to all undergraduates taking relevant degrees within the engineering field, the initiative demonstrates the carmaker’s ongoing commitment to developing young talent.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was formally presented with the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award on 26 August during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The Freedom Award was given to 15 companies selected from more than 2,400 nominations an acknowledges.
CAM has promoted general manager Ryan Naughton to its board of directors. The company said the promotion recognises his contribution to the business over the last three years, specifically around the structuring of a formal people development programme, leading to the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) award in February this year.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) is planning to open two new training academies in the north and south of England to increase the provision of MOT training for garages. The RMI has received increasing demand for training from garages across the UK since opening up the RMI Academy of Automotive Skills in Warwickshire.
The government has announced that employers paying the apprentice levy, which will apply to businesses with payroll bills of over £3 million, are expected to register for the digital service by January 2017. Further details about funding, government support, additional support for 16- to 18-year-olds, English and maths payments and eligibility rules are not due to be published until October 2016.
The first eight apprentices have completed their training and been gaining experience at Bosch’s Service Training Centre (STC) while working at their local independent Bosch Car Service garage. Over the last three years the scheme has continued to enrol more and more apprentices each year and this September will mark the fourth year it has been operating, with Bosch currently recruiting for its largest intake yet.
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