Toyo Tire Corporation has appointed Masaomi Kono division general manager of its Europe, Africa & Middle East sales division and also, confusingly, general manager of said division, as well as general manager of the Europe, Africa & Middle East sales department. Kono begins in these roles, and presumably will receive slightly larger business cards, on 1 April 2023.
This year began with the sad news that Ken Block passed away after a snowmobile accident on 2 January. The world-renowned rally driver served as brand ambassador for Toyo Tire Group for the past seven years, and the tyre maker has published a memorial message paying tribute to Block and his accomplishments.
As of 1 January 2023, Shoji Hirao takes on further responsibilities for sales within Toyo Tire Corporation’s Europe, Africa & Middle East business. In addition to his existing remit as division general manager for the Europe, Africa & Middle East sales division and sales headquarters, Hirao has been appointed general manager of the Europe, Africa & Middle East sales department and sales division.
On November 29, Toyo Tires issued a notice on its official Chinese website saying it will resume using the old Chinese brand name in the mainland market from 1 December. Both the old and new brand names are the Chinese translation of “Toyo Tires”. Toyo previously used this brand name in the Chinese market before 2015, subsequently changing its name to use the Chinese pronunciation of Toyo Tires to determine the new version of the brand and the company name.
Effective 22 August, Rob Lovi is vice-president of sales at Toyo Tire U.S.A. Previously serving as the director of sales, national strategic accounts, Lovi’s promotion is a part of the company’s succession plan following the appointment of Mike Graber to president and chief executive officer earlier this year. Lovi first joined Toyo Tires as a director of sales in July 2018 and brings nearly 18 years of tyre industry experience to the role.
With the start of production at its new factory in Serbia drawing nearer, Toyo Tire Corporation is changing its organisational structure in Europe. Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, which has served as the sales vehicle and sales headquarters within the region, will be reorganised into a holding company that includes the Serbian plant under its umbrella. From 1 June 2022, the tyre maker will thus be represented in Europe by Toyo Tire Holdings of Europe GmbH.
Toyo Tires is extending its support as main partner of the UCI World Cup Cyclo-Cross for the upcoming 2021-2022 season. Together with the UCI, Flanders Classics and the other main partners, Toyo Tires is continuing to “build on the growing international appeal of this elite sport.”
Toyo Tyre Australia Pty Ltd., the Australian sales subsidiary of Toyo Tire Corporation, will wind up its rubber mixing business as of 13 December 2021. The closure of the 1974-established operation directly affects 36 of the 107 people employed (as of 31 December 2020) by Toyo Tyre Australia.
Toyo Tire Corporation has re-examined and updated its natural rubber procurement policy and established this as an independent policy separate from the company’s CSR Procurement Guidelines that prescribe the proper procurement process for the Toyo Tire Group (the Group).
For the third consecutive year, Japanese tyre manufacturer Toyo Tires is partnering with the AIG Women’s Open golf championship as an exclusive patron. This year’s championship will take place at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland from 19 to 22 August.
Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has announced that it will increase the dealer base prices across all tyre categories by up to 8.5 per cent from 1 August 2021. The tyre maker comments that the price increase “is a result of continued increases in raw materials and logistics costs.”
Shoji Hirao is the new division general manager at Toyo Tires for the company’s Europe, Africa & Middle East Sales Division. He began in this role on 1 June, joining the tyre maker from the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association.
Seth Whales; AllJengi; Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0