GRI appoints Thanuja Samaranayake as COO
Thanuja Samaranayake has joined GRI as the tyre maker’s chief operating officer, effective 1 March 2024. Introducing the new COO, GRI describes Samaranayake as an “accomplished global operations strategist and sustainability leader” who has a “proven track record of driving revenue growth, enhancing supply chain resilience, and achieving sustainability goals across diverse industries.”
Continue ReadingGavin White becomes Activate Business Finance ambassador
Autotech Group founder Gavin White has become Automotive Ambassador in partnership with commercial finance broker Activate Business Finance. The announcement follows the recent news that White has stepped down from the day-to-day running of Autotech Group.
Continue ReadingMark Widdows appointed Colewood Automotive network director
Colewood Automotive, the tyre e-commerce platform operator, has recruited Mark Widdows as network director. Widdows has more than 40 years’ experience in the tyre industry. He has managed and developed franchise networks comprised of independent dealers for both Goodyear and Bridgestone over the last 17 years. Colewood Automotive is behind several of the biggest tyre websites in the UK including Asda Tyres, etyres and RAC Tyres. Widdows will be responsible for increasing its business online and broadening its fitter network.
Continue ReadingKatja Garcia Vila leaving Continental at year’s end
Continental is beginning the search for a new chief financial officer after Katja Garcia Vila informed the company she won’t seek another term on the Executive Board following her current contract’s expiry in December 2024. Garcia Vila is taking this step as part of “her own career planning.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone EMEA retail network: record number of female customers
Bridgestone’s retail network in the EMEA region has recorded a 55 per cent increase in female footfall, year on year. Within the UK market , the company’s ETB Autocentres network says it has doubled its customer base of female motorists. President retail EMEA and business leader global Franchise Daniel Giroud said the figures mirrored a gender-shifting pattern across its network of over 3,400 stores, where the number of female staff – including technicians and managers – has increased in recent years. The company expects this evolution to continue growing significantly in future. The company revealed the increase on Friday 8 March, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
Continue ReadingDelphi to support veterans with EV qualification giveaway
Delphi is set to give away six IMI electric and hybrid vehicle technician qualifications to deserving ex-military and serving personnel. It comes as figures show homelessness among military veterans in England has risen by 14 per cent in the last year. Recognising the dedication and sacrifices made by those whove served, the new initiative from Delphi Academy aims to equip the most-deserving veterans with in-demand skills. “As a proud veteran who served 10 years in the Royal Air Force, Ive experienced first-hand the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life,” said Luke Garratt, UK technical services manager at Delphi. “Through this campaign, we’re offering a lifeline to a promising future in the automotive industry. With the worlds focus shifting towards electric, these skills will open the doors to an exciting new career.”
Continue ReadingJames Noon joins BAB Agricultural
B A Bush and Son Ltd has appointed James Noon to the role of Area Sales Manager within its expanding BAB Agri team. Announcing this new appointment, BAB Agri says that Noon “brings a wealth of experience and technical knowledge to the role” and will be a “huge asset” for the operation, which exclusively distributes the Ascenso tyre range.
Continue ReadingMAHA UK appoints new regional sales executive
MAHA UK has named James Thompson as the company’s newest regional sales executive. Thomspson will be responsible for expanding MAHA UK’s presence in northern regions of the UK, nurturing relationships with both existing and potential clients, and promoting MAHA UK’s premium products and services.
Continue ReadingCorey Parks succeeds Robert Foord as Kal Tire president
Robert Foord is transitioning to the role of executive vice-chair of the board after 15 years as president of Kal Tire and 37 years with the company his father founded. Corey Parks assumed the role of president effective 1 March 2024.
Continue ReadingFormer Cooper Avon managers James Weekley, Matthew Vincent join Nova Motorsport team
Nova Motorsport has continued its recruitment of former Cooper Avon managers previously based at the companys erstwhile European headquarters in Melksham. James Weekley, former general manager at Avon Tyres Motorsport, leads Nova Motorsport as commercial director. Ex-Cooper Tire/Avon Motorsport product technology manager Matthew Vincent has also become Novas senior product category manager. The two appointees join Paul Coates, Cooper Tire/Avon Motorsport general manager, whose appointment was previously announced, and who has become Novas contracts manager. The experienced team has been assembled by founder and managing director of the brand’s parent company, SPC Group, Paul Hallas.
Continue ReadingAutotech Group announces new leadership structure
Last September Autotech Group founder Gavin White revealed his brain tumour diagnosis. Now commenting that he is continuing treatment and “doctors remain pleased with my progress”, at that time, White also announced that succession plans for Autotech Group, due for implementation in 2024, would be accelerated. Now, the Autotech Group has announced that Simon King has been formally appointed to the position of company CEO and an executive team has been implemented.
Continue ReadingGRI appoints former Conti leader Barry Guildford global commercial director
Speciality and agricultural tyre manufacturer GRI has appointed Barry Guildford as its new global commercial director (GCD). The appointment bolsters the company’s increasingly international leadership team as the Sri Lanka based company proceeds with its global growth strategy. Guildford arrives with a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in strategic leadership and sales management roles within the tyre industry over the last 23 years. He has held a variety of leadership positions within Continental, most recently as head of region Northeast Europe & head of sales ContiTrade. He joined GRI officially on 1 March. GRI has made significant strides in integrating sustainable materials in its flagship tyres in the last year, and demonstrated its leading sustainability position and expanding manufacturing base in Sri Lanka to Tyres & Accessories – see Tyrepress next week for more details.
Continue ReadingAutomotive apprenticeship starts in England rise for first time since pandemic
According to new analysis from the automotive industry’s professional body, the IMI, the first quarter of the current academic year saw a significant milestone in automotive apprenticeships. With the highest number of new enrolments since before the Covid-19 pandemic, starts have seen a 9 per cent rise compared to the 2022-23 academic year. “This uplift indicates a renewed interest in both the automotive sector generally and apprenticeships as an entry route, both of which are critical to build the talent pipeline for the future”, explained Emma Carrigy, Research Manager at the IMI.
Continue ReadingBridgestone reorganises management structure, instates EMEA region
Bridgestone has detailed a number of organisational changes to its global management structure that went into effect at the start of 2024. Tyrepress reported the company’s promotion of Central Europe managing director Christian Mühlhäuser to vice president of the North Europe region on 22 February. The creation of Mühlhäuser’s new role is part of the transition from Bridgestone EMIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) to the newly created Bridgestone EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Core Tyre Business Unit. Bridgestone told Tyrepress that the changes have been made “as part of move to further strengthen the global management structure.”
Continue ReadingOne retirement, two appointments at Hankook Tyre UK
Mark Eatwell has succeeded Chris Baxter as Technical Services Manager at Hankook Tyre UK. Baxter retired on 31 January, bringing a 43-year career within the tyre industry to a close. The company has also appointed Mark Hutchinson its PCR Regional Sales Manager for the Midlands.
Continue Reading