NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 13, 2002)—Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire L.L.C. (BFNT) has made several management changes in its manufacturing and quality assurance functions.
Nobuo “Tim” Kawakami, president of Bridgestone/Firestone Manufacturing Operations, Bridgestone/Firestone's manufacturing unit, will retire March 31, 2003. Mr. Kawakami also is an executive vice president of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Inc., the parent of BFNT.
Masao Wada, plant manager of the company's Aiken County, S.C., plant, will relocate to Nashville and assume Mr. Kawakami's responsibilities. Mr. Wada will be elected BFNT executive vice president, manufacturing, effective Feb. 1, 2003.
Succeeding Mr. Wada at BFS's Aiken County plant is Mike Rose, currently the facility's operations manager. Also on Feb. 1, 2003, John McQuade, vice president of manufacturing, will be accepting a new assignment as a full-time member of the team responsible for the 2003 round of labor negotiations with the United Steelworkers of America, which is expected to begin in the spring. Mike Kane, currently manager of quality assurance, will become vice president of quality assurance.