SRNA makes a series of executive hirings, promotions

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.—Sumitomo Rubber North America (SRNA) has made a series of executive appointments over the last several months.

Cliff Stewart has been named director of commercial truck tires.

"I've been focused on our original equipment business since 2016, so I'm excited to learn a totally different part of the business," Stewart said. "With over two decades of experience in the automotive world, I'm confident in my ability to learn quickly and to ensure our commercial truck business continues to grow as we move into 2024."

Stewart, has spent the past eight years at SRNA, and he has 22 years of experience in the automotive industry—18 in the tire industry—with positions in business development, marketing, sales and purchasing.

"We anticipate 2024 will be a significant year for SRNA," SRNA CFO Toby Beiner said. "Cliff is one of several team members to step into a new position heading into the new year. We're fortunate to have him as a leader in our organization."

"We trust Cliff to head a very important part of our business," SRNA CEO and President Darren Thomas said. "He's played a big role in our success over the past eight years, and I have full confidence he'll continue to do that in his new position."

Tsuyoshi "TJ" Johnson was promoted to director of product planning, Falken passenger car and light truck tires.

Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in the tire industry, with nearly eight years at SRNA.

"I've had a lot of exposure to technical aspects of tires in design, testing, and production process," Johnson said. "Those past experiences have been invaluable in helping me create new products with our global R&D groups."

"I've always been an avid automotive enthusiast, so being able to create a product concept and see it through to market is something I've enjoyed these past several years in product planning," he said. "As I take on this new role, I'm thrilled to continue creating products that put SRNA in the best position for success, while also having an opportunity to help transform our highly talented group into experts in various categories."

Johnson has a bachelors of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He started his career in outdoor tire testing, then spent several years in the original equipment business in technical and account management roles.

"TJ has proven himself as a strong leader in our organization," Thomas said. "We trust him to build and lead an excellent product development team and to ensure Falken continues to deliver exceptional products to the marketplace for years to come."

Bakari Howard has been promoted to manager of motorsports.

Howard has been with SRNA for 15 years, holding several positions in areas including TBR sales and product training. He's also served as host of Falken Digital TV's Tire Tech episodes.

"My previous roles have afforded me the opportunity to be very well rounded in this industry," Howard said. "I've seen the optics from both the associate dealer and wholesale distribution side to the end user at an event."

"I'm excited about continuing the legacy that others have established before me in this department and growing our dealer interaction at events," he said.

"Bakari is a true enthusiast who knows our product inside and out," Thomas said. "He understands the multifaceted nature of our business, and has a great deal of experience interacting with our customers on multiple levels. I look forward to seeing him apply what he's learned over the years to excel in this new role."

In late 2022, Falken Tires decided to drop its participation in Formula Drift and Amsoil Championship Off Road racing in 2023, ending Falken's 19-plus years of participation in American motorsports.

Falken, instead, has shifted its presence to smaller events in order to connect with its fan base, according to a company spokesperson.

In 2022, Falken returned as sponsor of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series as an official sponsor, joining sister brand Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.

The tire brand also continues to race in the King of the Hammers, an off-road race that combines desert racing and rock crawling. The company said it also participating in Gridlife, Electrify Expo, Fabulous Fords and multiple off-road expos.

Jeff Botsford has been hired as regional sales manager for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.

Botsford has been in the motorcycle industry since 1991. He's owned an aftermarket store and has experience in parts, service, and sales at a multi-line store in Delaware. He spent 15 years at Western Powersport in sales and marketing.

Botsford will be responsible for the Northeast region, covering the states of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine.

Joyce Ho has been promoted to corporate events and merchandising manager.

Ho has spent 15 years at SRNA, holding several positions throughout the company, including stints as executive assistant and financial analyst. Prior to joining SRNA, she worked as a project manager and a clothing designer for clients including McDonald's and Electronic Arts.

Corey Fiacco has been promoted to tax manager.

Fiacco, who joined SRNA in 2019, is a certified public accountant. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the company's tax compliance and developing and implementing new tax strategies by partnering with sales and other departments.

Ambar Hernandez has been promoted to accounting manager.

Hernandez, a certified public accountant, joined SRNA in 2019 as a senior accountant. She will now be responsible for managing accounting related responsibilities of accounts payable, capex, treasury, financials, and trade management.