NASHVILLE, Tenn.―Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations said it has hired Gordon Knapp, most recently a president in Kimberly Clark Corp.'s Consumer Tissue Division, to succeed Larry Magee as president of its consumer tire business in the U.S. and Canada.
Magee will retire July 31 after a 38-year career with the tire maker.
Knapp joins Bridgestone June 17, so he will be able to participate in an "orderly transition and knowledge transfer," Bridgestone said.
Magee was named to his current position in January 2011, moving into a new position that consolidated the reporting responsibilities for the original equipment, replacement/wholesale and retail tire businesses in the U.S. and Canada as well as Credit First N.A., the firm's private label credit card business.
Knapp has spent his 25-plus-year executive career—both in the U.S. and internationally—in the consumer products area of three of the world's foremost brands: Kimberly Clark, Pfizer Inc. and Warner-Lambert Inc., Bridgestone said.
"Throughout his career, (Knapp) has shown commitment to delivering value to consumers through innovation, a focus on results and a passion for operational excellence," said Eduardo Minardi, chairman, CEO and president, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
Knapp earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1983 and an MBA from University of Western Ontario. He will relocate to Nashville from Wisconsin.
Magee began his career as a Firestone store associate in 1975 and advanced through the Firestone store hierarchy as a store supervisor, general manager and zone director before being named president of the retail business in 1998.