FULLERTON, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2006) — Yokohama Tire Corp. has filled two positions in its marketing department.
The Fullerton-based tire maker has named Fred Koplin director of marketing and Theresa Palang manager of advertising and public relations.
“Fred and Theresa possess the skills to provide the strategic vision that will take our marketing efforts to the next level,” said Jim MacMaster, Yokohama executive vice president, business division. “Their collective public relations and marketing experience will help tell the Yokohama story to dealers, media and the public.”
Mr. Koplin, who will report to Mr. MacMaster, is a former publisher with Ehlert Publishing and Primedia. Before joining Yokohama, he ran a company producing motorsports content for ESPN and worked on advertising and marketing for several motorcycle and packaged goods companies. He will oversee the creation of marketing plans and materials to help dealers sell more Yokohama tires, Mr. MacMaster said.
Ms. Palang, who will report to Mr. Koplin, has extensive public relations and marketing experience in the automotive aftermarket, according to Yokohama. She oversaw communications strategy at companies including K&N Engineering. Previous responsibilities also included motorsports and online marketing and tradeshow management.
Prior to her position at K&N, Ms. Palang was with Wilwood Engineering and Primedia.
Yokohama Tire, which claims more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo-based Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.