Companies large and small—including three of the world's largest tire manufacturers—saw changes at the top in 2024.
New faces are leading Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone units in 2025, while other industry organizations, like the Tire Industry Association that serves as an advocacy group for so many causes, will move into the new year with Debra Hamlin at the helm.
Here are five of the top leadership changes from the past year.
Three of the largest tire manufacturers in the world saw leadership changes in 2024, including Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear.
Bridgestone Corp. shook up its global management team in the fall, announcing the promotion of Scott Damon to vice president, senior officer and Bridgestone West CEO, succeeding Paolo Ferrari, executive officer and Bridgestone West CEO since 2022.
The move is effective Jan. 1 and accompanies several other newly created positions. Ferrari stepped down Oct. 31.
In May, Michelin named Matthew Cabe as the next president and CEO of Michelin North America, effective Oct. 1. He succeeds Alexis Garcin, whose next position with Michelin will be announced at a later date, the tire maker said. Garcin has been president since 2019.
And in January, Mark Stewart, former COO for North America for Stellantis, was appointed as the next chief executive officer to lead Goodyear.
Stewart replaced long-time Goodyear executive Rich Kramer, who announced his retirement in 2023 after 24 years with the company.
Wacker Chemie A.G. selected a familiar face to lead its U.S. subsidiary, Wacker Chemical Corp., in Christoph Kowitz.
The former head of the company's global corporate research department took over as president and CEO of the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Wacker branch, effective May 1.
Kowitz succeeds David Wilhoit, who retired after heading Wacker's North and Central American business since 2015.
Kowitz is a chemist who began as a senior manager for Wacker Silicones in 2013. He began his professional career as a product developer at BASF A.G. in Ludwigshafen in 1996.
In October, Steve Andrews was appointed chairman and CEO of Pawcatuck, Conn.-based Davis-Standard L.L.C., a supplier of extrusion and converting equipment.
He succeeds Giovanni Spitale, who had led Davis-Standard since February 2022.
Andrews served as executive chairman of Davis-Standard's board since May 2024 and has more than 30 years of leadership experience. He previously worked as CEO of Briggs & Stratton.
Founded in 1848, Davis-Standard has more than 1,400 employees globally. Its brands include Davis-Standard, Maillefer, Battenfeld-Cincinnati, Exelliq and Simplas.
Automation and logistics firm Cimcorp Group has a new CEO as of the start of 2025.
Veli-Matti Hakala officially took over for former CEO Tero Peltomaki on Jan. 1, 2025, who is retiring but will remain on Cimcorp's Board of Directors, the company said in a statement.
Hakala, formerly the company's executive vice president, joined Cimcorp in 2016. During his time with the company, he has risen through sales to upper management, and now to the company's top position.
The new CEO said he is "committed to maintaining a high level of service as the company grows."
Debra Hamlin said the transition to becoming the next president of the Tire Industry Association (TIA) will be a smooth one.
Hamlin, director of operations at Bridgestone Commercial Dealer Network, took over the presidency for the 2024-25 term on Nov. 4 at TIA's annual membership meeting in Las Vegas prior to the start of the SEMA Show and AAPEX.
She said the president should be the main advocate for the organization's mission and vision.
Hamlin began her career with Bridgestone in 1997 as an environmental project manager in the retail division.
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