
ETRMA names new secretary general
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has appointed Dr Adam McCarthy as secretary general, effective 1 January 2023. Franco Annunziato, president of the board of directors of ETRMA, said: “After 17 pioneering and successful years at the helm of our association, Fazilet Cinaralp will hand over her leadership responsibilities to Dr Adam McCarthy. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to wholeheartedly thank Fazilet for her commitment, dedication, and direction from the very start of ETRMA in 2006. She steered the Association’s inception and, since then, has built it up to become the voice of the European Tyre and Rubber Industry.”
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Sentury CFO may face criminal penalties
On December 10, Sentury announced that the Public Security Bureau of Danzhou City, Hainan Province is investigating Xu Huashan, director and chief financial officer. The tyre manufacturer said the investigation relates to Xu Huashan’s work prior to her appointment at Sentury, and that it will not significantly or adversely impact Sentury’s daily business decisions and operations. It is reported that Sentury has arranged for director and general manager Lin Wenlong to perform the duties of the CFO.
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Yokohama names Błażej Bębenista as commercial director Poland
Błażej Bębenista has been named as the new commercial director of Yokohama CEE Sp. z o.o. based in Warsaw, Poland, effective 1 January 2023. Bębenista brings with him 11 years of experience in the tyre industry, including the retail manager/managing director position at Driver Polska; and motorsport manager Poland as well as other sales positions at major tyre manufacturers.
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Kenda Tire Europe names Stephane Demarteau as key account manager
Kenda Tire Europe has appointed Stéphane Demarteau as Key Account Manager France & Benelux reporting to Henno Plaggenborg, director of Automotive Division, Europe.
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Warwick Acoustics appoints Ian Harnett non-executive director
Longstanding senior automotive executive Ian Harnett has joined the board of audio technology company Warwick Acoustics. The firm entered the $8 billion automotive in-car audio market in 2022 following a five-year research and development programme, and wants to disrupt the sector with its ‘clean sound’ ElectroAcoustic technology. The company believes it can meet demands for improved audio and sustainability spearheaded by growth in electric vehicles via its adaptable speaker technologies, with the intention of working in-house on car-makers’ interiors.
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New independent directors appointed to Motorsport UK board
Katrina-May Kwan and Nick Pontefract have been appointed to the board of Motorsport UK as independent non-executive directors. Pontefract joined Sport England in 2018 as chief strategy officer. He has led the development and delivery of the body’s new strategy to tackle inequalities in grassroots sports participation. He is a former senior civil servant at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, where he worked from 2005, including leading the bid for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. He was also a board member of Yorkshire 2019 Ltd, the organising committee for the 2019 UCI Road World Championships.
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New IRSG secretary-general brings sustainability, circular economy experience
The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has named Professor Joseph Adelegan as its new secretary-general. Professor Adelegan officially took on his new role on 1 December 2022. IRSG describes Professor Adelegan as “a C-Suite Executive and an international development expert”. A Professor of Practice of Environmental Science and Engineering and a practitioner-scholar in management with over three decades of professional experience across 20 African Countries, Europe and United States, his work spans several organizations including the United Nations, development finance institutions, international organizations, government, non-governmental organizations, education, innovation and research institutions.
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Goodyear appoints Norma Clayton to board
Effective 28 November 2022, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Norma B. Clayton to its board of directors.
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Rob Neale heads up Repairify Luton technical centre
Industry specialist Rob Neale has been appointed operations and workshop manager by Repairify to head up its workshop operation at its site in Luton. The goal is to create a technical centre of excellence to provide expert training and support for customers conducting vehicle diagnostic and calibration services.
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Liqui Moly names Dr Uli Weller as joint MD
Liqui Moly’s long-standing commercial director, Dr. Uli Weller, has been appointed joint managing director of the company, alongside Günter Hiermaier. Dr Weller will become the second managing director of the group of companies at the start of 2023.
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GRI names Michael Connor as US director of sales
GRI is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Connor as director of sales for its US operations. In his new role, Connor will oversee GRI’s sales, marketing, operations and customer service efforts in North America, covering its Material Handling, Agriculture and Construction product portfolios.
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Tyre technician pay up 21%
During lockdown, one popular meme said: A key worker, someone whose work is overlooked and undervalued until a crisis, well that’s the clean version. As far as tyre technicians are concerned. their uniquely important role in keeping essential services running both during crises and in more normal times has definitely been overlooked by many. However, the latest Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) data suggests thats beginning to change.
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Halfords investing £3.5 million in creating 1000 automotive technician roles
Halfords has embarked on a recruitment drive for its autocentres business to meet rapidly increasing demand for vehicle servicing, MOTs, maintenance and repairs. That means Halfords is creating 1000 new automotive technician roles over the next 12 months and is prioritising attracting retirees back into the workforce as well as challenging itself to increase the number of women in automotive technician roles. The recruitment drive, which will also target disadvantaged young people, is being backed by £3.5 million of technician training and recruitment investment over next 12 months.
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Halfords names Simon Wherry as delivery director
Halfords has appointed Simon Wherry as delivery director for the group. Simon joins Halfords Senior Leadership Team and the group’s growing IT function. According to the company, Wherry brings experience in business change delivery, underpinned by technology. He joins from management consultancy firm, CapGemini, where he was a programme director working in the defence manufacturing arena.
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Federal Corporation chairman resigns
On 18 November, Federal Corporation stated that Chiang Ching Hsing, the company’s chairman and general manager, resigned. Chen Heng Kuan, who is also chairman and president of Nankang, held his position. According to analysts, both Chiang Ching Hsing and Chen Heng Kuan are representatives of Nankang Rubber on the Federal Corporation’s board of directors, and Chiang Ching Hsing’s departure will not bring about a massive change in Federal Corporation.
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