AKRON—A high-ranking Goodyear executive who took on a new job in December is leaving the company.
The Akron-based tire maker on March 4 made a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that read in its entirety: "On February 28, 2014, Arthur de Bok, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing Excellence of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, tendered his resignation effective March 15, 2014."
A Goodyear spokesman said de Bok was leaving "to pursue a new opportunity," about which he did not know details.
The spokesman said a search has begun for de Bok's replacement.
De Bok took over the sales and marketing role last Dec. 1. He previously had served as president of Goodyear's Europe, Middle East, and Africa business unit since February 2008, and before that, he was president of the company's European Union business.
De Bok joined Goodyear in January 2002. In 2012, his total compensation was $4,518,647, which placed him eighth on Crain's Cleveland Business' list of the highest-paid non-CEOs in Northeast Ohio.
Less than a month after de Bok took on the new role, a Goodyear SEC filing from Dec. 26, 2013, noted that the tire maker and de Bok had "entered into an employment agreement … relating to the cessation of his employment with the Company and its affiliates."
Under agreements outlined in late December, de Bok would serve as senior vice president, sales and marketing excellence "from January 1, 2014 until at least February 28, 2014. Prior to February 28, 2014, Mr. de Bok can only be terminated for 'Cause' (as defined in the Employment Agreement), and on February 28, 2014 will become an at will employee."
The employment agreement stated that de Bok would receive "base salary from January 1, 2014, at an annual rate of $603,552 and, assuming that he does not resign prior to February 28, 2014 … a severance payment of approximately $7.14 million following the end of his employment relationship with the Company."
The Dec. 26 filing stated that de Bok "also agreed to confidentiality, non-solicitation, non-disparagement and continued assistance covenants, and to waive and release certain legal rights and claims."