Hoping to improve relationships with their customers and boost sales, a number of tire makers and suppliers have modified their sales and marketing departments. Following are some of the personnel changes that recently have taken effect:
CUMBERLAND, Md.-Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. has created two new positions in its sales and marketing departments, naming four regional field sales managers and two field marketing technicians to those posts.
Kelly named Doug Addis, Mark McDonald, Dan Doolan and Mike Bragg field sales managers, responsible for working with the Kelly brands regional and district managers to improve service to customers. Mr. Addis, former account executive in the Custom Brands division, has filled the post in Atlanta; Mr. McDonald, a former business center manager, is in the Cleveland region; Mr. Doolan, a former operations manager, has accepted the Dallas position; and Mr. Bragg, former manager of sales and marketing operations, is in Kansas City.
In the marketing department, Michael Barrueta Jr. and James D. Costello have been promoted to field marketing technicians-responsible for developing and conducting commercial training and market research-covering the western and eastern portions of the U.S. respectively. Both men had been Kelly commercial account representatives.
NORTHVALE, N.J.-With the aim of boosting its customer support and growth efforts, Rema Tip Top/North America Inc. has expanded its sales and service operations.
The move includes the consolidation of sales and technical support functions in the U.S. and Canada, the creation of new sales zones and the reallocation of field personnel, the company said.
The new zone alignment in the U.S. and Canada assigns a business development manager, two zone sales representatives and a technical product specialist in each of the company's three geographic sections.
Business development managers will analyze their markets and business trends, seek new sales accounts, and serve as facilitators between the zones and James McMillan, newly appointed vice president of sales and marketing.
Zone sales representatives will provide day-to-day contact with Rema customers and develop new sales opportunities, the company said. Technical product specialists will deliver product and application training.
The Eastern zone team consists of: Ilene Heischober, business development manager; David Walworth and Mike Pelletier, zone sales representatives; and John Garrett, technical product specialist.
The Central zone team includes: Dane Teaman, business development manager; Fred Azbell Jr. and Mark Aiken, sales representatives; and Michael Wagner, technical product specialist.
The Western zone team consists of: Jerry Fenter, business development manager; Bill Scichilone and Carolyn Johnson, sales representatives; and Roger Kelly, technical product specialist.
GREENVILLE, S.C.-Michelin North America announced it has realigned its marketing and sales organization, replacement tire group, ``to be more responsive to our customers.''
Under the new alignment, Ken Kruithof has become vice president, national dealer sales; Roger Ferguson, director of the newly formed dealer business development group; Mike Severide, director of sales in charge of major accounts and new business development; Dave Brophy, director of sales South; and Alison Heiser, Uniroyal-Kleber-Riken brand man-ager, the company said.
``This new organization has resulted in a highly skilled team which will lead our evolution in the highly competitive North American market,'' said Hurbert Hannezo, vice president of marketing and sales for Michelin Americas Small Tires flag brands.