Bridgestone/Firestone to become Bridgestone Americas

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 4)—Bridgestone Corp., citing a desire to "build a strong, high performance corporate identity under the Bridgestone name," will rename its Americas business unit Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc., effective Jan. 1. The name change comes just a year after Bridgestone announced the Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Inc. corporate organization. It won't affect other operating units, such as Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire L.L.C. John Lampe will continue to serve as chairman, president and CEO of the holding company, while Mark Emkes is president, chairman and CEO of the North American tire unit. Bridgestone said the name change will allow the individual businesses "to build strong brand identities for their products under, primarily, the Bridgestone and Firestone names."