BRUSSELS (May 30, 2001)–Marco V. Molinari, a former vice president of sales and marketing for Goodyear's North American Tire unit, has been named group managing director of the tire maker's United Kingdom operations, based in Birmingham, England.
The move is one of three executive appointments made by Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe, which take effect June 1.
Goodyear's Europe unit also named Sylvain G. Valensi group managing director for the company's French operations, based in Paris, and appointed Gerd Gruenenwald group managing director German operations, located in Hanau, Germany. Mr. Valensi previously was on special assignment reporting to Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear president and COO. Mr. Gruenenwald was vice president sales and marketing, European Union.
Mr. Molinari most recently was vice president, global marketing projects for Goodyear in Akron. Before that he served as vice president sales and marketing for the tire maker's North American operation for nearly four years. Prior to coming to the U.S., Mr. Molinari was managing director of Goodyear Great Britain.
In their new posts, Messrs. Molinari, Valensi and Gruenenwald and will be members of the Goodyear Dunlop Europe executive committee.
“This move will allow us to drive the consolidation of the Goodyear Dunlop joint venture while at the same time ensuring a clear separation of the brands in the field in order to optimize market coverage,” said Michael J. Roney, president of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe.
Reporting to the group managing directors will be the managing directors responsible for the Goodyear and Dunlop brands in each of the three countries as well as for the Fulda brand in Germany, Goodyear said.