Solideal Tire Marketing has appointed Baldwin Hickey CEO of its East Coast operations, replacing Earl Garrick, who will retire by year-end.
Mr. Hickey, formerly general manager for the East Coast, will report to Barry Cox, the company's president. He has worked for Solideal for the past 11/2 years. Prior to that, he was a division manager for Carpenter Co., a urethane manufacturer.
He also has held various managerial positions in the boating, automotive and import furniture fields.
``We know Baldwin has a long history of management experience and feel confident he will lead the company forward and continue the tremendous growth that Earl has achieved for Solideal,'' Mr. Cox said in a prepared statement.
Mr. Garrick, a 39-year veteran of the industrial tire business, entered the industry in 1963 and opened his first retail store in West Palm Beach, Fla., in 1977. He became associated with Solideal Tire-an industrial tire maker and marketer-in 1985 and helped set up company-owned branch stores on the East Coast.
In 1986, Mr. Garrick assumed his post as CEO of Solideal's East Coast operations.
Under Mr. Garrick's leadership, Solideal Tire now operates 17 branch stores and three distribution centers in the eastern U.S. He will serve as a consultant to assist with the transition.