Former BKT CEO & Equity Firm Buy Alliance Tire
Former Balkrisha Tyres CEO Yogesh Mahansaria and global private equity company Warburg Pincus have jointly acquired Israel’s Alliance Tire Co. for approximately US$150 million. The new owners intend to establish a greenfield facility in India to complement the agricultural and OTR tyre specialist’s existing Israel based production, with the facility in India serving as a site for the low cost sourcing of products. Joseph Anglister, president of Alliance Tire said “we welcome the new ownership. An investment by a leading international investor such as Warburg Pincus combined with Yogesh Mahansaria’s extensive experience in the off-highway tyre industry will provide an impetus to our long-term objective of growing Alliance’s product library, strengthening our relationship with existing customers and tapping new markets.”
Continue ReadingAmerityre Names Benninger as President and CEO
Amerityre Corp. has promoted chief operating officer Dr Gary Benninger to president and chief executive of the company. Benninger, 64, will become president immediately and will succeed Richard Steinke as CEO from 1 September. Steinke, 63, will serve as a full-time technology consultant once Benninger becomes CEO. In January 2007, Mr. Steinke announced his intention to step down as chairman and chief executive officer of the company as part of the company’s overall management succession plan. The board of directors selected Dr. Benninger following months of deliberations and interviews with several potential candidates proposed by an independent executive search firm. Dr. Benninger has been serving as the company’s chief operating officer since October 2005.
Continue ReadingASE Taps Zilke as New President and CEO
(Akron/Tire Review) The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has made some staff changes. The board of directors named current COO and CFO Tim Zilke to succeed Ron Weiner as president and CEO. Weiner had served as president and CEO for the last 25 years. Zilke, who first joined ASE in 1991, will take the reins as of Jan. 1, 2008. “Over the last 30 years, Ron’s contribution to the organization has been enormous,” said Stan Elmore, ASE board chairman. “Under Rons leadership, ASE has enjoyed tremendous growth and earned a prestigious reputation within the occupational testing industry. Ron has developed a great team that will step up to fill his shoes and drive ASE into the future without missing a beat. He has agreed to remain available to assist ASE as a consultant.” In addition, ASE promoted Trish Serratore to senior vice president and extended Bill Kersten’s tenure as president of the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation.
Continue ReadingPutin “Banned” Execs from UK Forum – Amtel-Vredestein CEO
According to Bloomberg news, a number of Russian business leaders have withdrawn from the annual Russian Economic Forum in London at the last minute, following what Alexei Gurin, CEO of Amtel-Vredestein NV called an unofficial and maybe official ban by President Vladimir Putin. Theres an unofficial, and maybe official ban for politicians to come to this forum in London, said Mr. Gurin. Russians tend to speak much more openly and frankly being outside of Russia. I dont know why it happens, but its a matter of fact.
Continue ReadingKumho Adds Three Sales Managers
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA Inc. has added three sales managers to its ranks. Aaron Duty joins Kumho as a regional sales manager for southern California and Arizona. He had been a district sales manager for Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. Before that, he served as a service technician with Sears Automotive and previously as a fabricator and engineering laboratory technician. Duty earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from California Polytechnic State University. John Krajewski has been appointed a regional sales manager for Wisconsin, Illinois and northern Michigan. He spent 15 years with U.S. Tire & Exhaust and five years with Chem-Trend, a company that sells mould release chemicals to the tyre industry. Krajewski earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northern Illinois University.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Employees Receive CEO Award for Safety Initiative
Bridgestone CEO and president Mr. Shoshi Arakawa has presented a special award to the company’s global sales teams in recognition of their efforts in promoting the Think Before You Drive road safety campaign. The campaign, which was launched in 2005 and emphasises basic safety measures including regular tyre pressure and tread depth checks, has in a short time spread to 73 countries around the world.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Appoints New Global CEO
Hankook Tire has announced the appointment of the company’s current President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe, Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, to the position of Global CEO. Mr. Suh, the person Hankook accredits as the driving force behind its new production facility in Hungary, officially took on his new role on March 5.
Continue ReadingMore Women Wanted!
Automotive Skills has won a major bid for a Women & Work project for the UK retail motor industry – part of a wider funded Women & Work Sector Pathways Initiative. The £10 million initiative is designed to encourage women to consider careers in traditionally male-dominated professions. With an average of less than 20 per cent of the motor industry workforce made up by women, one of the key challenges facing the sector is how to attract a more diverse workforce which can contribute to increased productivity and performance and develop new ideas and improved methods of working.
Continue ReadingNew Appointments at Blackcircles.com Support Rapid Expansion
Innovative tyre retailer Blackcircles.com has announced two new additions to its executive team as it prepares for another year of exciting growth. Launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch (28), the online tyre retailer has set a new quality standard for the tyre industry and strong sales in 2006 has seen it create the two new posts of commercial director and head of finance.
Continue ReadingTyre Company CEOs Endorse Environmental Research Programme
The Chief Executives from leading tyre companies in North America, Japan, Korea and Europe met on 9th February in Los Angeles, to review progress and set a forward-looking agenda for their global research program dealing with potential environmental and health impacts of their products.
Continue ReadingAshley Croft To Leave Micheldever
Ashley Croft, Warehousing, Logistics and Wholesale Sales Director of Micheldever Tyre Services, has resigned from the company. Ashley Croft was one of the original six members of management involved in the Buy Out of the company in February 2006.
Continue ReadingAnd a New CEO for Goodyear South Pacific Tyre
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced the appointment of Judith Swales to the position of managing director and chief executive officer of its Australian-based South Pacific Tyres (SPT) business. Swales replaces Joe Copeland, who has been named vice president of Goodyears Global Off-Highway business based in Akron.
Continue ReadingCEO Outlines Kumho Plans
Kumho Tire USA’s annual dealer meeting is currently underway in Cancun, Mexico, and new CEO B.K. Kim has used the event as an opportunity to unveil the company’s aspirations for the coming years. According to media sources, Mr. Kim announced Kumho’s plans to open three new production facilities during the next few years, and with this increased production base the company is aiming for an output of more than 76 million tyres by 2010. Anticipated output for 2007 is 52 million units.
Continue ReadingCooper Names New CEO
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. have announced their appointment of Roy V. Armes as company president, chief executive and a member of Cooper’s board of directors. Armes, 54, steps into his new role on January 1, replacing Byron O. Pond, who has served as Cooper’s interim CEO since August. Pond has voiced his support for Armes, saying We are extremely pleased to have Roy taking the lead at Cooper at this critical time, He has all the qualities we were searching for and the leadership capabilities to continue and successfully execute the companys plans for profitability. He has the complete confidence of the board and will fit in well with our management team.
Continue ReadingPirelli CEO Resigns to Focus on Telecom Italia
Pirelli & C SpA CEO Carlo Buora is resigning from his posts with the Pirelli Group in order to concentrate on his commitments at Telecom Italia SpA. According to reports Buora was appointed as Telecom Italia vice-chairman in September, in addition to his long-standing role as a CEO at the telecom firm. Pirelli is the largest shareholder in Telecom Italia with an 18 per cent stake via its 80 per cent holding unit Olimpia SpA.
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