PERSONNEL
Automotive industry charity BEN has appointed Peter Cottle as head of business development. Cottle spent ten years in retail banking prior to over 30 in the automotive industry, where he specialised in retail and wholesale finance. He has championed the work of BEN throughout his career.
AME International recently promoted Kyle Sparkman to the newly created role of mining industry product manager. Sparkman credits his success with new product sales to a combination of the steady growth of emerging market economies and the ability of AME to provide customers with its mining equipment in a timely manner. Sparkman and AME plan to continue expanding their product line to match the demands of the expanding mineral industry.
Titan International has announced the resignation of its vice-president of Sales and Marketing, Jeff Vasichek, effective May 31. Vasichek joined Titan in 2005 when the company purchased Goodyear’s North American agricultural tyre business. Commenting on Vasichek’s departure, Titan International chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor said “Jeff has been with Titan as we have grown in business, and everyone at Titan wishes Jeff all the best in his next venture. He will be a great asset for his next employer.”
The top job at Continental Tire the Americas, vacant since Matthias Schönberg’s July 1 transfer to the company’s ContiTech division was confirmed, has been filled by Jochen Etzel. In a statement, Etzel declared his appointment as CEO of Continental Tire the Americas “an excellent opportunity,” and added: “I am excited to take this next step with the CTA team. Matthias Schoenberg guided CTA to a strong and successful business model in manufacturing, product and sales. I look forward to the challenge of continuing to lead CTA to further volume growth, as well as significant new product launches."
The UK features strongly in the Klarius Group’s plans for growing its European business, and the Leicester based manufacturer of exhaust systems, catalytic converters and other automotive components says this commitment to UK growth can be seen in the appointment of Richard Morley as UK sales director. Morley, who was previously with German owned automotive electrics company Hella, brings more than 21 years of automotive aftermarket experience with him into his new role, in which he assumes day-to-day responsibility for Klarius’ UK sales team. Key tasks that Morley will undertake include developing and implementing the company’s commercial strategy, identifying and prioritising new business opportunities, developing existing customers whilst bringing innovative new products to market in the UK.
Those wishing to catch the Green Wave don’t have long to wait – the global tree planting campaign advocated by the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is taking place on May 22 – the International Day for Biological Diversity. In Japan, however, the Green Wave has already been washing over the land for more than two months, as the country’s government declared the 16 weeks between March 1 and June 15 its “Green Wave 2011” period. During this time schools, companies and organisations have been encouraged to carry out tree planting campaigns. It goes without saying that Yokohama Rubber, whose Forever Forest programme is now in its fourth year, has embraced the programme.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has announced the appointment of Gregory A. Fritz to the position of vice president, investor relations. In his new role, Fritz, who prior to joining the tyre maker was assistant treasurer and senior director, investor relations for Whirlpool Corporation, will report to Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Responsibility for Michelin communications in the UK and Ireland now rests in the hands of Phil Baldock. The 19-year company veteran has been appointed to the role of head of Communications at Michelin Tyre plc following the retirement of Peter Snelling, who has held this position for the past six years. Baldock, 51, is based at Michelin’s UK head office in Stoke-on-Trent and reports to managing director Eric Le Corre.
Ben Butlin has joined research firm JATO Dynamics as global research director. Prior to JATO, Butlin’s career included 17 years at Ford where he began as a professional mechanical engineer. His role developed into overseeing quality, product planning and project management with international assignments in Belgium, USA and Japan. His most recent role at Ford was global CV product planning manager where he was responsible for the alignment of LCV product planning across all regions.
Pro-Align has added David Haydon as the latest recruit to join its wheel alignment sales team, as field sales executive in the South West. According to the company, both Pro-Align and Haydon are “bowled over” that the ex-county cricketer has brought his proven sales track record to the wheel alignment business.
The Sunday Times published its yearly Rich List supplement this weekend, with several names that will be familiar to regular readers of Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com appearing in its pages. The weekly newspaper surveys the identifiable “minimum wealth of Britain’s 1,000 richest people or families”.
Eurotire’s Ukraine training centre, located in Dnepropetrovsk, has opened its doors. According to the company, the Eurotire Training Center will act as an educational facility for Eurotire employees and customers alike. Training will include technical, safety, commercial, and industrial instruction. The aim of Eurotire’s training centre is said to be to further education in the mining industry regarding all OTR related matters. Jack James, a long-time OTR veteran and experienced OTR instructor, has been named director of the centre.
GITI Tire has appointed Richard Lyons as general manager as part of a series of moves that sees the firm implement a new organisational structure for its European operations. The new structure, which took effect 1 May 2011, has been established following the departure of Michael Andre in March. Andre previously held the role of marketing director for passenger car tyres Europe and was managing director of the company’s Giti Tire Germany GmbH German subsidiary.
Hervé Richert, GITI’s executive director, international sales and marketing described the new-look team a “direct consequence of GITI Tire Europe’s growth of business over recent years.” Writing in a statement detailing the reshuffle, he explained that it also follows the company’s “clearly defined strategy of building on strong relationships with its partners and customers with a focus on key markets in Europe and emerging markets” such as CIS and Russia:
Michelin has announced the appointment of Brian Porteous, 43, who is the company’s new technical product marketing manager with a remit that includes the company’s truck, bus and coach products within the UK and Ireland. He replaces Paul Kendrick, who is retiring after 43 years with the company. Porteous will be based at Michelin’s UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent and will report to Martin Covington, head of Truck and Earthmover Marketing.
At a meeting of the Yokohama Rubber Board of Directors on April 27, two “informal” changes in its representative directorship were decided upon. Tadanobu Nagumo, currently the company’s president and representative director, will become its chairman and CEO and representative director, while Hikomitsu Noji, who at present serves as director and senior managing corporate officer plus president of the company’s Tire Group, is to become Yokohama Rubber’s president and representative director and president of the Tire Group.
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