WAYNE, N.J. (Feb. 15, 2011)—Bill Bainbridge, director of brand communications for Hankook Tire America Corp., is retiring effective Feb. 25.
Bainbridge joined Hankook in May 2003 as director of marketing after two years as a regional sales manager for Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp. During his time at Hankook, he's had responsibility for developing and executing marketing strategies and other programs for the Wayne-based company and its lineup of passenger, light truck and truck tires.
Bainbridge is retiring after more than 35 years in the industry.
He began his tire industry career in 1976 with the former B.F. Goodrich Co. as a retail salesman in a company-owned tire store in Phoenixville, Pa.
He stayed with BFG and its successor companies for 20 years before becoming Toyo's director of marketing from 1996-1999.
Then he served as vice president of marketing for the Specialty Equipment Market Association from 1999-2001, before rejoining Toyo.
Bainbridge is the second top Hankook executive to leave the company in the past week. Todd Hershberger, senior vice president of sales and marketing since August 2009, left the company to become Cleveland-based Alcoa Wheel Products' director of marketing, Americas.