Bridgestone Americas' Garfield retiring; Knapp to succeed as CEO

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Gary Garfield, CEO, president and executive chairman of Bridgestone Americas Inc. since 2010, plans to retire at the end of the year after a 25-year career with the tire maker.

Gordon Knapp, the company's chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO on Sept. 1, and William “Bill” Thompson, the company's chief financial officer, will succeed Knapp as chief operations officer.

Garfield, will remain as an adviser to the company and the new leadership team until the end of 2016. He also will retire as executive vice president and executive officer of Bridgestone Corp., effective Aug. 31.

Masaaki Tsuya, Bridgestone Corp. CEO and chairman, lauded Garfield for his “exceptional service” to the company.

“Under Gary's dedicated leadership, Bridgestone Americas achieved six straight years of record business results,” he said in a statement, “and he has led positive culture changes through the organization. His commitment to the company, our people and our customers is unequaled, and I know he will be missed.”

Commenting on Knapp's promotion, Tsuya said, “Gordon brings a tremendous wealth of corporate experience and demonstrated success to this new leadership role. He's worked in consumer products his entire professional career, leading the operations of some of the world's leading brands and has been with us for three years in roles of increasing responsibility. He is clearly ready to step into this new leadership role.”

Garfield called his time as Bridgestone Americas' top executive the capstone of his career.

“I'm so proud of the company's performance, but I believe my greatest legacy is establishing the foundation for a culture centered on true, open dialogue and innovation,” he said.

“We have built an incredibly strong team at Bridgestone Americas, and I am confident that the company is in extremely good hands with the high-caliber leadership that Gordon and Bill will provide. It has been my great privilege and honor to lead and work with the Bridgestone Americas team.”

He added there are “still some avenues I'd like to explore, both personally and professionally, and leaving now gives me time to pursue those opportunities.”

Garfield said he plans to remain in Nashville with his wife, and they look forward to the opportunity to spend more time with their two grandchildren.

Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, said Garfield's “passion for the business and people of the U.S. tire manufacturing industry—and the customers and communities we serve—has been a tremendous asset to Bridgestone and to RMA.

“Gary's commitment to transformational progress has been the hallmark of his leadership as the chair of the RMA Board of Directors. Since his election as chair, Gary has devoted many hours helping RMA become a more active, engaged organization focused on delivering ever-increasing value to its members.”

She thanked Garfield for being a “generous and wise partner” during her first months as head of the RMA.

Garfield joined Bridgestone Americas in 1991 in the legal department, eventually rising to the position of vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary of Bridgestone Americas.

In March 2010, he was promoted to Bridgestone Americas' CEO and president, and in January 2016 he was named executive chairman of Bridgestone Americas. He was promoted to a series of executive positions within Bridgestone Corp.—executive officer and executive vice president—over the past few years.

Prior to joining Bridgestone Americas in 2013, Knapp was president, Family Care North Atlantic, Consumer Tissue Division for Kimberly-Clark Corp.

He also has held leadership positions in the consumer products businesses for Pfizer Inc. and for Warner-Lambert Inc.

He also is vice president and senior office for Bridgestone Corp. and a member of the board of Bridgestone Americas.

Thompson has been with Bridgestone Americas for 20 years. Among his assignments were West Zone manager for U.S. commercial tire sales in 2011 and controller in 2012. He then was vice president of finance before being named CFO in May 2014.

He also is a member of the board of directors of Bridgestone Americas.

Tsuya also announced that Eduardo Minardi, executive chairman of Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, Africa, will serve concurrently as chairman of the Bridgestone Americas board of directors while maintaining his current role in Brussels.