FULLERTON, Calif. (May 14)—Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has named Norio Karashima, a 28-year company veteran, the top executive at its Yokohama Tire Corp. subsidiary, effective June 29.
Karashima will succeed Koji Ikawa, 63, in the newly created position of corporate officer of the parent company and president of the U.S. company. The move needs final approval at the firm's general shareholders meeting. Ikawa will remain in the U.S. as chairman of Fullerton-based Yokohama Tire Corp.
Ikawa, a veteran of 40 years with Yokohama, was part of the team that helped establish the tire maker's presence in the U.S. in 1969. Karashima, 51, joined Yokohama in 1976. He most recently was general manager of the original equipment tire planning department.
Karashima's appointment is part of a larger corporate reorganization, which calls for a reduction in the number of directors to seven from 19 and the creation of 19 corporate officer positions. The tenure of a corporate officer is one year, the same as that for a director.