PERSONNEL
North East based independent tyre wholesaler and retailer Tyrespot Ltd has appointed Johnathon Shaw as joint managing director. Shaw will hold the position with his father John Shaw who established the company in 1975.
Following the company’s friendly acquisition by Belgium-based chemical companySolvay, the functions of chairman and CEO at Rhodia have been separated. Gilles Auffret has been appointed CEO of Rhodia and a member of Solvay’s executive committee. Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, deputy CEO of Solvay, remains chairman of Rhodia.
In recent years agricultural implement manufacturers have developed a range of modern implements and tractors that often demand wheels and tyres specifically designed and manufactured for the application. Starco recognised this trend some years ago and has focused on providing a comprehensive range of wheel and tyre solutions, including its own tyre brand. It has also strengthened its position within the sector through acquisitions of and strategic partnerships with specialist manufacturing companies.
On 1 January 2012, Tatsuo Mitsuhata will take over from Yashushi Takagi as president and CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.; Takagi, who has held this position at Toyo Tire U.S.A. since January 2009, will return to Japan as Toyo Tires’ general manager of corporate planning. This appointment is Mitsuhata’s second US-based position – he previously worked for Toyo Tire U.S.A., as the company’s coordination manager between 1994 and 1998.
On 11 October 2011, Hou Yifan, member of Linglong Tyre chess team was awarded “Non-olympic Athlete of the Year” at the 10th China Laurens Prize ceremony was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The award was the second grand prize she won after a prizegiving by state television – “CCTV non-olympic athlete” – at the beginning of this year.
Halfords Autocentres has appointed Simon Benson as operations director. He takes up the reins from Bill Duffy, who was recently appointed as Halfords Autocentres chief executive. Benson joins the company from Kwik-Fit, where he served for 10 years, most recently as divisional director. He has also worked for Kingfisher Group brands Comet and Woolworths.
As of November 2011, former GKN Wheels Carpenedolo sales director Thomas Ruedl will take on the role of group sales director, OEM Key Accounts at Starco. In his new role, Ruedl will report to regional director Jef de Smedt and have overall responsibility for Starco’s existing and future OEM customers. First priority for Ruedl in his new position will be prioritising Starco’s agricultural, industrial and trailers/caravans markets; this will be followed by the horticultural and internal transport markets. The new OEM Key accounts group sales director will work in close liaison with local Starco sales entities, which will also continue their daily contact with global OEM customers as before.
Although Continental merged its Passenger & Light Truck Tires and Commercial Vehicle Tires divisions into a single unit, the Tires division, on August 1 this year, both remain as business units within the combined division. At the start of next year management of the Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit will be handed over to Dr. Andreas Esser, who is currently responsible for Continental’s passenger car and van tyre replacement business in the Asia-Pacific region. In his new role, the 52-year old will report directly to Tire division chief Nikolai Setzer.
After two consecutive terms as ETRMA president Pirelli CEO Dr. Francesco Gori is making way for Michelin’s Patrick Lepercq for a three-year presidential mandate set to run from 2012 to 2014. The news follows Lepercq’s election to the role by ETRMA’s board of directors who also appointed Contiental’s Christian Koetz vice–president for the same period.
Apollo Tyres Ltd chairman, Onkar S Kanwar, was inducted into the Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) Hall of Fame 2011 at a special ceremony held on 31 October in Las Vegas.
Every year the TIA honours the outstanding individuals who have created lasting value for the tyre, rubber and transportation industries. This year, along with Onkar Kanwar, three others have been honoured for their significant contribution to the American tyre industry. Kanwar, who is the only non-American to be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame, unfortunately was not able to attend the ceremony in Las Vegas.
Norbar Torque Tools has announced that Catherine Rohll has been appointed to the company’s board as commercial director, strengthening the family management team. She will hold the position jointly with her cousin Craig Brodey until he moves to Norbar’s Australian head office in Adelaide to work with the existing operation, supporting business growth for the company in the South East Asia region. He will take up his new appointment as commercial director for Australia in January 2012.
David White, Kwik Fit Group customer services director, has announced that he will be leaving the company at the end of March 2012. White, who is also currently NTDA chairman, said: “I have had a long career at Kwik Fit and have hugely enjoyed my 24 years here. I’ve seen many changes and believe that the next phase of the company’s development will be one of the most exciting times in its history. However, I feel that the time is right for me to explore new opportunities and challenges outside the business.
Continental Tyres has appointed Tracey Hyem as commercial marketing manager. Hyem is no stranger to Continental having been with the manufacturer eight years. Initially joining as marketing communications manager, she then moved into a role as brand manager for passenger car tyres – a position she held for five years – before taking up her current role as marketing manager for Continental’s commercial vehicle and industrial product lines.
Michelin Tyre has announced the appointment of former Wedgwood and Austin Reed customer service specialist Mike Lawton as its new commercial director of agriculture, responsible for the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Lawton joined Michelin’s UK operation, based in Stoke-on-Trent’s Campbell Road, in 1999. He will replace Rob Beddis, who is retiring at the end of the month, after seven years in the role.
Tire Group International has announced its appointment of Osvaldo Marchante as vice-president of business development. Marchante has more than 25 years of extensive automotive and on/off highway industry experience with multinationals. He was most recently the president and CEO of Detroit Diesel-Allison (Florida), overseeing eight full service facilities and a network of multiple dealers, customers and OEM’s throughout Florida.
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