Continental AG has appointed Nikolai Setzer (49) as its new executive board chairman until March 2024, effective 1 December 2020. He succeeds Dr. Elmar Degenhart (61), who is stepping down for health reasons, effective 30 November 2020. Setzer is widely seen as a safe pair of hands for the company who has been prepared for the position for years.
PCL has welcomed a new Area Sales Manager for the South of England to its team. According to the inflation specialist manufacturer, Steve Nolan brings extensive experience within the motor industry to his new role, having worked on key automotive accounts dealing with distributors and end users, and covering national trade shows and conferences.
Apollo Tyres has appointed Hizmy Hassen to the newly-created position of Chief Digital Officer (CDO). Hassen will be based at the company’s London office, and will be responsible for leading the strategy and operations of Apollo Tyres’ digital journey, including responsibility for Information Technology. Hizmy Hassen will report to Neeraj Kanwar, vice chairman and MD, Apollo Tyres Ltd.
Effective immediately, Anna Hyvönen, SVP Nordics and Vianor and member of Nokian Tyres Management Team, has been appointed SVP North America, Nordics and Vianor. The shift was precipitated by the departure of Mark Earl, who had been Nokian Tyres SVP Americas, who has decided to leave the company to “pursue other career opportunities”. Tommi Heinonen, Head of Sales, North America, will start reporting to Anna Hyvönen.
Norwegian tyre recycling startup Wastefront, has appointed Maria Moræus Hanssen as its chairperson. Heading up Wastefront’s board, Hanssen brings international experience from top-level positions within oil, gas and energy companies such as Hydro, Equinor, Aker and Engie. She has served as a board member of multiple Scandinavian industry leading companies – including Det norske oljeselskap ASA, Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA, and Yara International – over the past twenty years, with current, active board member positions at Alfa Laval, Scatec Solar and Oslo Bygg. She was previously deputy CEO and COO at Europe’s leading oil and gas company, Wintershall DEA. Wastefront has also announced its first £25 million tyre recycling facility will be built in the UK.
Wheely-Safe has appointed Peter Hatton as its new sales manager. The new role has been created as the technology business prepares to expand its range of intelligent TPMS, wheel loss and brake temperature sensing systems with a new generation of products. Hatton, 48, joins the company from Continental Tyres where he was most recently truck retread and casing manager. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in the automotive sector for nearly 30 years.
Frank Petznick (49) will take over the management of Continental AG’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business unit and become a member of the Management Board of the Autonomous Mobility and Safety business area on 1 August 2020.
Dutchman Edwin van der Stad has been appointed as vice president OE Europe at Nexen Tire. Van der Stad brings 30 years of experience and premium level OE management with him to the Korean tyre manufacturer. Prior to joining Nexen, van der Stad spent many years with Bridgestone. Van der Stad’s new role took effect in March.
PCL has appointed Dean Battersby as operations director at the company’s UK headquarters in Sheffield. Battersby takes from Mark McCaughey, who has retired after 30 years of service. Having worked for multi-national companies servicing the automotive, aerospace and rail industries, Dean Battersby brings over 22 years of executive experience in manufacturing, operations, procurement, logistics and product management. He holds a BEng (Hons) Degree in Engineering and Business and has an impressive track record in strategy development and implementation, with extensive experience in establishing global supply chains to accommodate increasing levels of customer service.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has expanded Hiroyuki Shioiri’s responsibilities for companies across Europe including Yokohama HPT in the UK. Effective 1 July 2020, is now Hiroyuki Shioiri Officer, President of Yokohama Europe GmbH, Chairman of Yokohama Reifen GmbH, Chairman of Yokohama Scandinavia AB, Chairman of Yokohama H.P.T. Ltd., Chairman of Yokohama Iberia, S.A., Chairman of Yokohama France S.A.S., President of Yokohama Austria GmbH, President of Yokohama Danmark A/S, President of Yokohama Suisse SA, President of N.V. Yokohama Belgium S.A. Prior to this appointment Hiroyuki Shioiri was Officer, Head of Corporate Planning Div., Chairman of Yokohama Europe GmbH.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed ex-Brisa and Bridgestone executive Hakan Bayman as president of Goodyear’s consumer tyre business in Europe, effective 1 July 2020. Bayman will be based in Brussels and report directly to Chris Delaney, president Goodyear EMEA.
Continental
Nokian Tyres
PCL
Nationwide Fleet Services 
Apollo Tyres
Nokian Tyres
Christian Fredrik Wesenberg
Wheely-Safe
Continental
Nexen
PCL
Yokohama
Prometeon