PERSONNEL
Smithers Rapra has appointed Rikki Lamba as vice president of North American operations. Prior to Smithers, Dr. Lamba worked for Excel Polymers LLC, a global supplier of custom elastomeric solutions with operations in the US, Mexico, the UK and China. Prior to Excel he was vice president of technology at Columbian Chemicals.
Peter Tan, managing director of Goodyear’s global natural rubber development and sourcing centre, Goodyear Orient Company (Private) Limited (GOCPL), has announced his intention to retire at the end of this year after 39 years with the company. Franco Fan, currently manager, Asia Raw Materials at Goodyear’s Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Shanghai, has been named Tan’s successor. Fan will relocate to Singapore July 1 and work with Tan until his retirement.
National Tyres and Autocare has appointed Joe Dutton as product development manager to head up the development of sales for non-tyre products. The role will focus on the augmentation of the autocare side of the business which includes exhausts, brakes, batteries, suspension, oil and filter and MOT along with new products and services. According to the company, Dutton will work closely with operations and also with National’s autocare partners and manufacturers to ensure that the product offering is highly competitive.
Upon the retirement of Michelin North America chairman and president Richard “Dick” Wilkerson later this year, current president of Michelin’s Truck and Bus division, Pete Selleck, will step into the role of heading up the company’s North American operation. Wilkerson will become chairman emeritus of Michelin North America when he retires from his current role.
Didier Miraton has stepped down from his duties as managing partner of Michelin. According to the company, which announced the news in Paris today (21 June 2011), the move is part of “the adjustment in Michelin’s corporate governance and executive management team” and was decided by the company’s managing general partners with the agreement of the firm’s supervisory board. However it also follows reports in Le Monde yesterday (20 June 2011), in which Miraton reportedly suggested that he wanted to leave. Therefore the precise background to this news is not clear.
On August 1, Yves Kerstens, who is currently a member of Bridgestone Europe’s Board of Directors and vice-president of Supply Chain and IT, will take up the position of managing director of the company’s Commercial Products Business Unit. In this newly-created role, Kerstens will be responsible for truck & bus, off-the-road and agricultural tyres, for both the original equipment and replacement markets. As such, his position covers all of Bridgestone Europe’s markets and divisions.
Grant Willman, who joined Continental in July 2008 as dealer support manager for the truck division’s South East region, has been promoted to the newly-created position of Retread and Brand manager within the company’s UK commercial vehicle tyres marketing team. In this role, Willman will be responsible for both developing Conti’s retread sector strategy over the coming five years. He will also take responsibility for managing the casing process to ensure, as the tyre maker says, “Continental is at the forefront of the retread market as well as developing and implementing the brand strategy for all Continental’s commercial vehicle products.”
Pirelli has appointed Mauro Pessi as president and CEO of its South America region with immediate effect. According to the company, the move is intended to facilitate the “consolidation…development of Pirelli leadership in the growing markets of South America.” Meanwhile, in order to maintain continuity of Pirelli’s business strategy in North America, the firm has announcement that Pessi will retain the chairmanship Pirelli NAFTA Region.
Pelmar Engineering Ltd has announced that its annual conference will take place Israel between 19 until 23 June 2011. The last conference was held from 12 – 13 February 2010 in Koln, Germany; held just after the Tire Technology Expo Cologne. The conference also marks the 45th Anniversary of the Pelmar Group and the change in management with Hagai Peled taking over as CEO from his father, Jacob Peled, who will remain as executive chairman of the group.
As of October 1, Patrik Romberg will take over as the Trelleborg Group’s senior vice-president of Corporate Communications. He succeeds Viktoria Bergman, who leaves the company on September 30.
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.
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