NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 15, 2008) — Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. will restructure its tire operations in the Americas, effective Jan. 1.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire L.L.C. will become Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations L.L.C. under the restructuring. The unit will encompass the company's U.S. and Canadian consumer and commercial tire businesses as well as its Latin American tire operations.
Asahiko Nishiyama will lead the unit and continue to report to Mark Emkes, chairman, CEO and president of BSAH. Reporting to him will be:
* Michael Gorey, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone/Firestone's diversified products division, who will serve as president of BATO's U.S. & Canada Consumer Tire Sales division under the new structure. Reporting to him will be Michael Martini, the division's president of original equipment and John Baratta, the division's president of replacement tire sales.
* Saul Solomon, president of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions L.L.C., who will also serve as president of BATO's U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division. Reporting to Solomon will be Kenneth Allen, the division's president of agricultural tires; Shawn Rasey, the division's president of OTR tires; and Scott Gateley, the division's general manager of tube business.
* Eduardo Minardi, who will continue to serve as president of the company's Latin American Tire division.
Also, a number of other Bridgestone and BATO staff members will be reassigned to new and existing positions within the company.