Goodyear’s Peter Tan to retire

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.

Tan’s career with GOCPL began in 1972 with the position of rubber inspector, and he became the company’s specification officer in 1974. In 1980, he was appointed manager of natural rubber purchasing, GOCPL. Five years later, Tan was named assistant managing director, GOCPL and then managing director in 1989. Prior to joining Goodyear, Tan worked eight years in rubber plantation and processing management positions for Eastern Industries Ltd.

In addition to his position at GOCPL, Tan has served as chairman of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce Rubber Association, deputy chairman of the Singapore Commodity Exchange, a member of the working group for Trade and Economic Re-structuring Committee of the Government of Singapore and advisor to the US delegation in International Rubber Organization. He is also a founding council member of the Stanford Club of Singapore and president of the Rotary Club of Singapore.

Franco Fan joined Goodyear in 2005 as new sourcing manager in the company’s Shanghai office and has held positions of increasing responsibility in the tyre maker’s Akron and Shanghai offices. Prior to joining Goodyear, Franco worked in purchasing and sourcing roles at BASF Corporation and Owens Corning. Fan holds a Masters degree from Wuxi University of Light Industry and a Bachelors degree from Xinjiang University.