Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
      USW alleges COVID-19 violations at Kumho plant
      NTB, Tire Kingdom stores to require face masks
    • Former auto exec Tyrone Jordan joins Cooper board of directors
      Bridgestone crafts virtual city to showcase sustainable-mobility initiatives
      Ford, Hyundai earn 2021 top North American vehicle honors
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event planned for September
    • Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 5
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      World rubber demand in 2021 to recover to 2019 levels — IRSG
      Hankook Tire holding company adopts Hankook & Co. identity
    • Gary Price to head Love's Truck Care operations
      TA opens 6th Oregon location, bringing 50 jobs to area
      Love's opens Speedco shops in Ariz., Calif., Ga.
      TIA adds more Spanish language training
    • Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Wireless auto data debate continues
      World rubber demand in 2021 to recover to 2019 levels — IRSG
      Transportation Secretary Chao resigns after Capitol attack
    • Ferentino Tyre opens Sri Lanka plant; eyes exports to U.S., Europe
      Sailun to expand Vietnam plant capacity over three years
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
      GRI initiatives benefit children of Sri Lankan rubber farming community
    • TGI secures Cosmo-brand naming rights at Fla. race track
      Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg postponed until April
      MotoGP extends Dunlop race tire contract through 2023
      Revived Yokohama Drivers Cup to feature Ferrari, Porsche models
    • Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
      Ford, Hyundai earn 2021 top North American vehicle honors
      BKT expanding its ATV/UTV lineup with Sierra Max Pro radials
    • J.D. Power survey: Quick greeting key to customer satisfaction
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 5
      Marko Ibrahim promoted to president, Bridgestone Retail Operations
      Tire Discounters opens 15th Columbus-area retail store
    • J.D. Power survey: Quick greeting key to customer satisfaction
      ASE opens registration for upcoming certification testing
      Bolt On, Global Payments aim for easier text payments for auto repairs
      Fisher: Commercial industry remains bright spot
    • Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
      AAPEX: Using social media to promote your business
      AAPEX: Road trips trending, commuting on the wane
    • Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
      Latest COVID relief bill includes $325B in small-business support
      AAPEX: Do more cars in the shop mean more profit?
    • Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand, effective March 5
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      Michelin completes rigid dump-truck tire lineup
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
    • Video: Demounting
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
      Staying safe when demounting and mounting tires
      Demounting Equipment
    • Video: Safety
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
      Protecting your people with proper hygiene
      Making friends with OSHA
    • Video: Tire Repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
    • Video: TMPS Service
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
    • Video: Training
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
      Shop Floor: Scholarships
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
      Recommendations for using a jack
      Jack stands for commercial tire service
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
February 20, 1995 01:00 AM

KUMAR LEAVES BFS; LAMPE PROMOTED

Gregory James Kennedy
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    SAN ANTONIO-Sunil Kumar, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.'s executive vice president and president of Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Sales Co., has resigned to take an appointment with a New Jersey-based maker of commercial roofing products. John Lampe, president of BFS' Dayton Tire Co. division, has been appointed his successor.

    The 45-year-old Mr. Kumar, who is credited with boosting U.S. market share for both the Bridgestone and Firestone brands, became president of Wayne, N.J.-based GAF Materials Corp.'s commercial products division but remains on BFS' board of directors.

    ``We very much regret the departure of Sunil Kumar,'' said BFS CEO Masatoshi Ono. ``Much of our company's growth and success over the past years can be directly attributed to his contributions.''

    Mr. Kumar, a native of New Delhi, India, joined Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in 1973 and created the firm's building products business seven years later. He became president of Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Sales in 1990. Two years later he was named executive vice president.

    ``I have reached a point in my life when I feel it is time to go in a new direction,'' Mr. Kumar explained. But he also acknowledged that the remote prospect, as an American in a foreign-owned company, of becoming BFS' top official entered into his decision.

    ``Yes, that was an issue, but not a big issue,'' he said. ``But it is something you have to think about.''

    In his new position, Mr. Kumar said he plans to expand GAF's commercial roofing operations, which currently post annual sales of about $150 million.

    Mr. Lampe also joined Firestone in 1973, spending much of his career overseas. In 1988, he began managing the sales and marketing of BFS' associate and private brand division.

    Initially, he will ``continue the momentum they've got going over the last three years,'' the 47-year-old Mr. Lampe said in an interview during Dayton Tire's annual dealer meeting in San Antonio.

    For the time being, he will remain president of Dayton, a position that probably will be filled within the next 90 days, he said.

    Mr. Lampe praised Mr. Kumar'sreign as BFS Tire Sales president and said he considers his management style ``similar.''

    ``I'm not a micro-manager,'' he said. ``I don't look over people's shoulders....I'm a great believer in this new concept that people in my position aren't managers anymore. They've got to be leaders and coaches.''

    He got his chance to lead this summer when the United Rubber Workers union struck Dayton's Oklahoma City tire plant and warehouse. Salaried employees and top Dayton officials, including Mr. Lampe, ``pulled their duty'' working in the warehouse, he told applauding Dayton dealers during the San Antonio meeting.

    ``I spent three years in the army, and I guess maybe the only thing I learned was the fact that you can't expect your people to do something that you're not willing to do yourself,'' he told reporters later.

    While at Dayton, Mr. Lampe was responsible for moving the company's headquarters in 1991 from Akron to Oklahoma City, where the firm's manufacturing facility is located.

    That move allowed the company to become more autonomous and focused on the associate brand market, he said.

    ``In 1991 when we were in Akron we were getting involved in (original equipment) things and Firestone brand things, and we just never could maintain the proper focus,'' Mr. Lampe said.

    Separating the company from its parent forced Dayton to create closer internal relationships, he said. The more focused company also formed stronger bonds with its dealers, the types of relationships Mr. Lampe considers essential in the business environment.

    The only problem is when those relationships have to come to an end.

    ``The Dayton family of dealers is a smaller family....Those that don't handle Bridgestone (and) Firestone I won't have as much contact with, and I'll miss that,'' he said.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • List Rental
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION