FINDLAY, Ohio—After working in a number of executive human resource roles with other international companies, Paula Whitesell will join Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. as senior vice president and chief human resource officer, beginning July 27.
Most recently, Whitesell worked for Peapod Digital Labs in Chicago as vice president of human resources, a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize, a supermarket e-commerce business. Prior to that, she worked as vice president of human resources for Peapod L.L.C., another major online grocer.
"There is nothing more critical to Cooper's success than our people," Brad Hughes, Cooper Tire president and CEO said in a statement. "We are excited to have such a talented HR executive join us as we continue to develop the organizational capabilities and company culture that will help Cooper deliver our strategic plan and help employees grow personally and professionally."
Whitesell also boasts an 18-year career with Whirlpool Corp., where she served as senior director of global human resources, working in the finance, customer care and integrated supply chain spaces; as well as positions with Siemens VDO and Budd Thyssenkrupp Co.
"Our company purpose states that 'everyone deserves to travel through life's journeys with confidence,' and this includes our teams, customers, consumers and all of our stakeholders," Hughes said. "We look forward to Paula helping us live this purpose every day."
Cooper Tire & Rubber is the parent company of a number of businesses that design and manufacture passenger car, light truck, medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires.