Former Goodyear India Chairman Dies
V. Narayanan, former chairman of Goodyear India, died September 14 at his home in Chennai. He was 91.
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Hoosier’s Don Newton Retires
NewsHoosier Tire has announced the July 16 retirement of Don Newton, a 36 year veteran of the company. The US based race tyre manufacturer says Newton took early retirement in order to spend more time with his family, and notes that during his career at Hoosier Tire Don Newton oversaw the substantial expansion of the company’s manufacturing operations. His job responsibilities will be re-assigned to John DeSalle, who will assume the new position of vice president of Engineering and Manufacturing and to Craig Benninghoff, who will assume the new position of vice president of Operations.
Goodyear’s Keegan to Retire; Kramer Elected Chairman
NewsWith his retirement plans now finalised, Robert J. Keegan has expressed confidence in handing over the role of chairman of Goodyear’s board to the company’s president and chief executive officer, Richard J. Kramer. The Goodyear board of director’s election of Kramer to the position was announced on August 3 and will take effect October 1. Keegan is stepping down both as chairman and a director and will retire from the company.
Toyo’s Weinger Retires
NewsFollowing a career with Toyo Tire U.S.A spanning 28 years, Steve Weinger has announced his retirement. Weinger joined Toyo in 1982 after more than nine years with Michelin, and was initially employed in the commercial product side of the company as Fleet Promotions sales manager. Later he became the national director of Truck Tire Sales and progressed to ultimately take on the position of senior vice president of Sales & Marketing. Toyo comments that, while serving in that capacity, he implemented programmes which resulted in record increases in overall sales.
Bridgestone Australia Workers Agree to Revised Redundancy Package
NewsAccording to local media, a redundancy agreement for the 600 Bridgestone Australia employees at the soon to close Salisbury facility will be signed within a week. The News Review Messenger newspaper reports that workers “voted overwhelmingly” in support of Bridgestone’s improved offer on November 10. Only two of the 400 union workers that voted on the offer opposed the Bridgestone package.
Toyo’s Dave Taylor Closes Career
NewsDave Taylor, vice president of technical services at Toyo Tire USA, has announced his retirement after 23 years with the company, reports Tire Review. Toyo said Taylor played a key role in the pioneering of niche sizes and products such as the Toyo Open Country M/T and Proxes S/T. Earlier this week, sales vice president Armand Allaire left Toyo to become Kumho Tire USA’s new national vice president of sales.
Kumho to Lay off 706 Employees in September
NewsIt is alleged Kumho Tire will lay off 18 per cent of its workforce during September. According to South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo (East Asia Daily), the tyre maker has filed an application to this effect with the Gwangju Regional Labour Office, and the country’s Labour Ministry stated on August 17 that Kumho will dismiss 706 employees on September 16. In its application, the company cited a number of reasons for its decision, including aggravating business conditions, rising accumulated deficits, and a lower operating rate at its factories due to declining profits. On August 10 Kumho began offering early retirement packages to employees. Only 20 workers have so far applied to take such an offer, however.
Schaeffler, Employee Representatives Agree Upon Cost Cuts
Career TracksSchaeffler reports a “successful reconciliation” of its interests has been achieved. The company’s Executive Management Board and plant management representatives, in talks with labour representatives, have agreed upon a package of measures to reduce personnel costs at Schaeffler’s German locations. The total adjustment volume, required due to slack demand, amounts to €250 euros per annum. Schaeffler now reports these savings can be achieved through natural fluctuation, voluntary redundancies and partial retirement along with the continued use of short time work and reduced working hours including adjustment of salaries and wages.
Harvie to Retire as Goodyear General Counsel, Successor Named
Product NewsCome October, Goodyear Tire & Rubber will have a new general counsel following the announcement of incumbent C. Thomas Harvie’s imepnding retirement. Mr. Harvie will retire on October 31 following more than 14 years in the position; Goodyear’s Board of Directors have elected David L. Bialosky, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of TRW Automotive Holdings as his successor. Bialosky will join Goodyear in late September.
Cooper Appoints New Operations VP, Plant Manager
Product NewsCooper Tire & Rubber Co. appointed John Bodart as vice president of its North American tyre manufacturing operations and Alex Perry as plant manager at the Texarkana, Arkansas, manufacturing facility. Bodart will oversee North American tyre plant managers, operations excellence, reliability engineering and lean engineering. A 20-year Cooper employee with experience in plant management, quality assurance, mold operations, tyre testing and product development, he most recently worked as plant manager in Texarkana, Cooper said.
Perry will relocate from Cooper’s manufacturing facility in Melksham, England. Perry previously served in manufacturing operations, assembly operations and production roles in Melksham and Texarkana. Before joining Cooper in 2001, he spent several years in the British Army as a bomb disposal officer, reaching the rank of captain prior to his retirement. He also has prior experience with two other companies in management roles. Perry is the first Cooper employee to become certified as a black belt under the Cooper Tire Lean Six Sigma program, the company said. (Tire Review/Akron)
Carlisle Hosting Pirelli International Rally
Product NewsThe city of Carlisle will reverberate to the sound of throbbing motors and tyres traversing gravel on the weekend of April 17 to 19 when 150 cars compete in no fewer than five Pirelli International Rally events. Topping the bill is the second round of the MSA British Rally Championship, an event that is bringing an international field of competitors to Cumbria.
Ahead of the crews lies two days of action over the fast gravel tracks in the border forests where any slip can land a car in one of the many deep ditches, leading to instant retirement. But with vital championship points at stake, the drivers will be no doubt give every ounce of effort to wring every second out of their times.
Johnson Announces Retirement, Berry to Lead ATD
Product NewsBill Berry has been tipped to be American Tire Distributors’ new CEO and president with the pending retirement of Dick Johnson, who will step down on 5 April. Berry, currently president and COO, joined ATD in 1998 when ATD (then Heafner Tire) merged with Itco Tire Co. He became executive vice president and COO in January 2002 and was named president and COO in May 2003.
Johnson will remain as chairman of the company for the next two years. He became chairman and CEO in May 2003, and during his tenure ATD doubled its sales to more than $2 billion and led the acquisition of numerous tyre distributors, including Am-Pac in late December.
“It has been my privilege to work closely with Bill Berry and the rest of the leadership team over the past decade to build a company that is stronger than ever and ready to shape the future of our industry,” said Johnson. “The changes announced today are the result of a succession plan developed over several years and designed to ensure a seamless transition and strength, stability and continuity of leadership for our company.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Bridgestone’s Laubie Retires
Product NewsBridgestone Americas Tire Operations today announced that Dave Laubie, long-time head of Bridgestone’s U.S. sales engineering efforts, has retired. Laubie was vice president of sales engineering, and had been with the company since 1970. His retirement was effective 1 February. William Thomas, most recently the assistant plant manager for Bridgestone Argentina, will assume Laubie’s responsibilities in the role of executive director of sales engineering.
The recipient of TMC’s Silver Spark Plug Award began his career in the international division of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and worked in a number of international posts before joining Bridgestone (USA) in 1982. He became sales engineering vice president in 2003. (Tire Review/Akron)
Obama Puts His Name to Goodyear-Ledbetter Law
Product NewsDuring his ninth day in office, new US President Barack Obama placed his signature on the first bill to become law under his administration. And with this stroke of his pen a legal fight that traces its origins back to a Goodyear plant’s shop floor has finally been settled. Some 18 months after the US Supreme Court declared Lily Ledbetter’s fight against her employer unlawful due to the delay between the alleged grievance and complaint, Obama has overturned the ruling in a move many are viewing as a landmark decision for American women.
‘Ledbetter’ Discrimination Bill Almost Ready for Obama’s Approval
Product NewsA piece of legislation stemming from a pay dispute involving Goodyear was passed by the US Senate on January 22. It now only needs approval from the House of Representatives before it reaches Barack Obama’s desk for signing.
The Senate passed the bill after a 61-36 vote, and an article posted on the White House blog on Sunday indicates the president supports it. The bill could well become the first that President Obama signs into law. If so, it will overturn a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that said former Goodyear supervisor Lilly Ledbetter could not sue for wage discrimination after being paid less than male employees performing the same job as she had not filed her suit within 180 days after the company first acted in discriminatory manner. The legislation will instead allow aggrieved workers to sue after the most recent discriminatory payment received, not the first one.
