CYPRESS, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2005) — Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. has named Shozo (Carlos) Kibata president of Toyo North America Inc., its Bartow County, Ga.-based tire manufacturing subsidiary.
The tire maker also named Masaharu Yoshimoto executive vice president of Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp., the company's U.S. sales subsidiary. Travis Roffler was named senior director of marketing.
Mr. Kibata, who will remain president of Toyo Tire U.S.A., will be based in Georgia beginning in July to oversee the construction of the tire maker's 1.1 million-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant in Bartow County. He has served as president of Toyo Tire for the past 5 ½ years.
“I have greatly enjoyed my tenure so far with Toyo Tires in the U.S., and I look forward to continued growth in this vital market,” Mr. Kibata said.
Mr. Yoshimoto joined Toyo Tire & Rubber in 1972, working for the firm in Georgia between 1974 and 1981. Most recently he served in Australia where, from June 2001 until his latest promotion, he was president and CEO of Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Ltd.
Mr. Roffler most recently was director of marketing and national director of sales for Toyo.