FULLERTON, Calif. (May 13, 2004) — Yokohama Tire Corp., the North American unit of Japan's Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., will have a new CEO and president effective June 29.
Norio Karashima will succeed Koji Ikawa, 63, in the newly created position of corporate officer of the parent company and president of the U.S. company. Mr. Ikawa was president and CEO of Yokohama Tire and managing director of Yokohama Rubber in Japan. The move needs final approval at the firm's general shareholders meeting. Mr. Ikawa will remain in the U.S. as chairman of Fullerton-based Yokohama Tire Corp.
A 40-year veteran of Yokohama, Mr. Ikawa had been part of the team that helped establish the tire maker's presence in the U.S. in 1969. Mr. Karashima, 51, joined Yokohama in 1976. He most recently was general manager of the original equipment tire planning department.