Goodyear’s Board of Directors has voted to appoint vice president of business development, Laura Thompson, as an officer of the corporation. Ms Thompson has served in her current role since June 2005 and is responsible for acquisition, divestiture and partnership activities in supporting Goodyear’s long-term strategies.

The 43-year old Akron region native began her career with Goodyear in 1983, working part-time while finishing her undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Akron (she also holds an MBA in finance from the same establishment). Ms Thompson then served in various financial and accounting staff positions, both in business units and corporate staff, until being named manager of finance for Research and Development in 1997. In 2000, she was named director of Investor Relations and served in that capacity for two years. She became finance director for consumer tyres in the company’s North American Tire business in 2002, and was named director, business development for the unit a year later.