50-year tyre industry stalwart Rob Henderson retired at the end of December 2020. Henderson can look back on an illustrious career in the international tyre market, much of which was spent in management roles with tyre manufacturers and wholesalers. He ends his career following seven years as the general manager in the UK and Europe for China’s Enjoy Tyre, best known for its Rotalla and Routeway brands.
In April 2020, Cliff Jones, managing director Rema Tip Top Automotive UK Limited celebrated 51 years with the company. Cliff Jones began life at Rema Tip Top in 1969 as a fledgling sales representative selling tyre repair materials to the bicycle and automotive trade. Having previously served as a TV engineer apprentice studying radio theory and techniques, he spent five years in the Merchant Navy. Perhaps this experience with people from all walks of life in his formative years is where he found the endearing manner and natural way with people he is known for.
Michael Andre (60) is retiring at the end of 2018. The news comes after five years with Kenda Rubber Industrial, where he has been marketing and sales manager automotive Europe responsible for the European passenger car tyre business of the Taiwanese tyre manufacturer. In this role Andrew has led the phased introduction of the Kenda brand to the German and other key European markets.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) Laura K. Thompson is to retire in the first quarter of 2019 after 35 years of service.
Following a long career in the tyre industry and after 25 years’ service at Hankook, former sales manager Ian Mayoll will retire from the company on 31 December 2017. Mayoll was the company’s first UK employee and has been instrumental in the growth of Hankook Tyre UK over the past two and a half decades.
After 45 years in the tyre trade, European Tyre Distributors (ETD) founder and managing director, Marcus Reedijk has chosen to retire, triggering a transition phase in the leadership of the company,
NTDA past chairman John Tarbox recently contacted Tyres & Accessories as a way of conveying his, the association’s and newly retired director Richard Edy’s appreciation to all those that contributed to his leaving gift.
To mark the retirement of Richard Edy, after 27 years’ service as director of the NTDA, the association held a farewell lunch in his honour at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull.
On 1 January 2014, Gary L. Cowger joined Titan International’s Board of Directors, replacing Mitchell Quain, who retired from the board on 31 December 2013 following a tenure of 17 years. Cowger is the chairman and CEO of GLC Ventures, LLC, a management consultancy on business, manufacturing and technology strategy and global organisational structures and implementation. He is also immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees at KetteringUniversity (formally General Motors Institute) and he serves on the Board of Directors of Delphi Automotive and Tecumseh Products, as well as the Detroit Symphony and the College for Creative Studies.
Team Falken completed the ALMS season-ending Petit Le Mans on a high note, taking first place in the GT class. Falken’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, prepared by team manager Derrick Walker, was driven by Porsche Works and Falken team driver Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers were again joined by co-driver Nick Tandy, who previously ran with the duo at Sebring.
Erik Jonnaert has taken over as new Secretary General of the European automobile Manufacturers’ Association, following confirmation by the ACEA Board of Directors in September.
Former Bridgestone Americas CEO Mark Emkes is retiring from his current role as commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration in the state of Tennessee, reports US trade publication Tire Review. Emkes was selected for the role following an election held in 2010, and Tire Review shares that Emkes told a local newspaper that he now has “absolutely no political aspirations.” He will finish as commissioner on 31 May.
According to a statement released by Bridgestone Corporation on 18 February, the Bridgestone Technical Center Europe is soon to receive a new managing director. The tyre maker reports that Yutaka Yamaguchi will take on this role, which is currently held by Bridgestone Europe CEO and president Franco Annunziato, on 26 March.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Europe Ltd says “difficult market conditions in Europe” are behind the recently-announced redundancies at its Melksham site. The tyre maker has confirmed some 50 redundancies in the plant’s manufacturing operations area.
Jorge Lorenzo dominated the field on his Yamaha Factory Racing M1 in a wet French MotoGP to claim his second win of the season, ten seconds ahead of Ducati’s Valentino Rossi, moving him to the top of the Championship standings ahead of third-placed Casey Stoner. All the riders chose to use Bridgestone’s soft wet tyres on front and rear on a cool, sodden track, increasing warm-up performance and initial grip. Bridgestone said the reduced standing water as the race went on resulted in very little degradation, since the majority of riders setting their personal best times in the latter stages of the race.
Rema Tip Top