YTC names new supply, R&D executives

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has promoted Ray Polentz to senior director of supply chain and logistics and hired James Cuttino as director of tire development and testing.

Polentz joined Yokohama in October 2017 as regional distribution center manager and was promoted to director of distribution operations in July 2018.

Before joining Yokohama, Polentz had more than 15 years of supply chain and logistics experience, and previously held senior positions at JCPenney, as well as Stein Mart in both operational and transportation roles.

Polentz also served in the U.S. Army and was a police officer.

"Ray has been instrumental in helping us negotiate through the difficult and complex supply chain issues facing the industry," Yokohama President and CEO Jeff Barna said.

"His experience in all aspects of logistics—operations management, freight, transportation and warehouse operations—has made him a major asset to the company."

Polentz is based at YTC's Santa Ana headquarters and will report directly to Barna.

Cuttino brings 23 years of industry and academic experience to the new job, including eight-plus years as director of Camber Ridge L.L.C., an independent tire-testing facility in Charlotte, N.C.

He'll be based at the Yokohama Development Center America (YDCA) in Cornelius, N.C., and will report to Thomas Kenny, vice president of research and development.

Cuttino has been director, tire research and development at Link Engineering Co. for the past four-plus years and prior to helping direct Camber Ridge, he was director of the North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center at University of North Carolina-Charlotte for nearly 11 years.

YTC is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.