Yokohama names new ATG chairman

TOKYO—Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. has named YRC President Hikomitsu Noji chairman of its Alliance Tire Group subsidiary and made a number of other executive changes and board appointments.

Noji will take over from Toru Kobayashi, who took over the job after ATG's acquisition in July 2016.

Yokohama did not say what Kobayashi's new role, if any, will be. He's listed as an executive vice president of YRC.

Noji, who previously was president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corp. and CEO of Yokohama Corp. of North America, also was named a vice chairman of YRC's board of directors.

Among other changes, YRC Tire Business President Masataka Yamaishi will be promoted to president and representative member of the board, head of corporate planning division.

Additionally, YRC announced:

• Osamu Mikami, a member of the board and head of Japan replacement tire sales and marketing division, will succeed Yamiashi as president of tire business and will continue his role in sales and marketing.

• Shigeru Nakano will be promoted to chief tire production officer, head of tire production division and head of tire production technology division. He also was head of North America tire plant division; YRC did not name his replacement.

• Yasuhiro Kurokawa, president Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc., was named president of Aichi Tire Industry Co. Ltd., the industrial tire maker that YRC recently acquired.

• Hitoshi Kobayashi, head of tire production division and head of Hiratsuka factory, will succeed Kurokawa as president of Yokohama Tire Philippines, and Kazuya Nakazawa, president of Yokohama Industrial Products Japan Co. Ltd., will succeed Kurokawa as head of Hiratsuka factory.

The changes are scheduled to be approved after YRC's general meeting of shareholders on March 30.