CYPRESS, Calif.—Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. has appointed Jim Hawk chairman and CEO of its U.S. subsidiary, Toyo Automotive Parts (USA) Inc.
The firm said he will hold this title in addition to his current positions—chairman of Toyo Tire Holdings of America Inc., Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. and president of Toyo Tire North America OE Sales L.L.C.
A company spokesman confirmed via email that Hawk's latest position is a newly created one for the automotive parts division.
Toyo Automotive Parts (USA) was established in 2001 and focuses on the firm's auto parts segment, supplying the automotive industry with original equipment anti-vibration rubber parts and bushings from its manufacturing facility in Franklin, Ky.
Hawk joined Toyo Tires in 2004 to oversee the planning and management of the firm's first and only tire manufacturing facility in the U.S.—Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc., located in White, Ga. The plant has expanded significantly since its inception, recently disclosing plans for an additional $125 million expansion project to add 2.4 million passenger tires per year to the firm's largest facility in the world. It is the fifth expansion project since its inception.
For his efforts in helping the firm expand its presence in the U.S., Hawk was named RPN's 2013 Rubber Industry Executive of the Year.