Toyo Tire's sales team adds Butler, Frederick
CYPRESS, Calif.—Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. added Bert Butler and Kenny Frederick to its sales team.
Mr. Butler, a resident of North Carolina, has more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the tire industry, according to Cypress-based Toyo. He will be responsible for the company's sales efforts in North Carolina as well as Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
Mr. Frederick, a 20-year industry veteran based in Houston, will be responsible for Toyo customers in South Texas.
Liberty Tire appoints Leighty dir. of quality
PITTSBURGH—Liberty Tire Recycling has appointed Timothy Leighty as its director of quality.
In his new position with Liberty Tire, Mr. Leighty will oversee the company's quality assurance, process improvement, safety and compliance initiatives, Liberty Tire said.
Mr. Leighty entered the tire recycling industry in 1988 as a member of the management team of Baker Rubber Co. He became director of operations at Baker but left in 1993 to start his own consulting firm, Recycling Technologies Inc., which with his partners he developed into a state-of-the-art processing facility.
In 2002, Recycling Technologies was sold to investors as Recycling Technologies International, with Mr. Leighty serving as president, Liberty Tire said. Mr. Leighty became a consultant to Emanuel Tire Co. in 2007 and to High Tread International Inc. in 2009.
He also served consecutively as director of operations for both companies.
Titan and 2 units make changes to management
QUINCY, Ill.—Titan International Inc. and two of its subsidiaries have made some management changes.
The board of directors has appointed Kent Hackamack to executive vice president of corporate development, from vice president of finance and treasurer.
Mr. Hackamack joined Titan in 1994 as corporate controller and was appointed vice president of finance and treasurer in 1996.
Paul Reitz also has joined the company as chief financial officer. Mr. Reitz brings more than 15 years' experience of leading finance and accounting departments for publicly traded corporations, including McLeodUSA Publishing and Yellow Book USA Inc. He most recently served as assistant vice president and chief accounting officer at Carmike Cinemas Inc.
Additionally, subsidiaries Titan Wheel Corp. of Illinois and Titan Wheel Corp. of Virginia announced that President Ron Schildt will join the company's corporate development team. He has more than 45 years' experience in manufacturing and supervisory roles and has lead Titan Wheel since 1993. Replacing Mr. Schildt as president of Titan Wheel is David Salen.
In 2008, Mr. Salen founded and served as chief executive and president of TPM Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of replacement drive components used in gypsum and engineered wood products industries.
He also has served as president and CEO and then director for the automotive aluminum wheel manufacturer UBE Automotive. Prior to UBE, Mr. Salen served as vice president and director of operations for the aluminum wheel division of Accuride Corp., and has held various positions in the manufacturing industry since 1984.
American Kenda names auto tire unit manager
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio—American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. has appointed Chad Keller to the position of regional sales manager, Automotive Tire Division.
Mr. Keller, who graduated from the University of Toledo (Ohio), worked with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. for the past 18 years, most recently as business development manager for the Findlay, Ohio-based tire maker's Southeastern Region.
Cooper names Anderson financial planning director
FINDLAY, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has promoted Brian Anderson to director of financial planning and analysis.
Mr. Anderson succeeds Craig Durliat, who recently became director of credit for the North American Tire organization.
In his new role, Mr. Anderson will coordinate and consolidate global business plans and create the North American Tire Operations' financial plans. He also will partner with marketing and pricing to ensure strong customer relationships and will oversee commercial analysis, Cooper said. His duties include working closely with sourcing, purchasing and manufacturing in all regions.
Mr. Anderson joined Findlay-based Cooper in 2009 and most recently served as financial accounting manager for North American Tire Operations and for global consolidations. Prior to joining the tire maker, he worked as operations accounting manager at Calphalon Corp., a division of Newell Rubbermaid.
TCS expands staff, adds ex-tire dealer
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—Tire Company Solutions (TCS) has expanded its operations, making several hires and promotions in its “continued commitment to top-notch service,” the business software solutions provider said.
Cookeville-based TCS has added former tire store owner Bill Williamson as its head of regional sales for the West Coast. Mr. Williamson brings more than 20 years of tire industry experience to the company, including time as the owner of Williamson's Tire in San Leandro, Calif. The dealership closed in 1998.
The company also promoted Jessica Usrey to director of marketing and three-year veteran Jesse Schmeling to director of customer relations. In addition, TCS recently added two customer support representatives and two programmers to its staff.
ASA Tire Systems makes appointments
MERRIMACK, N.H.—Tire industry software provider ASA Tire Systems has appointed two new management team members for its operations and marketing departments.
Scott Hopkins has joined ASA as vice president of operations. He has more than 30 years' experience leading successful technology organizations, including senior level management of professional services, information technology (IT) and technology groups, according to Merrimack-based ASA Tire. The company said his goals will include capitalizing “on market opportunities to drive revenues, profits and growth.”
Cathleen Thomas was named ASA Tire's marketing manager. She has more than 13 years' experience in the B2B software industry and, according to ASA, has a reputation for building strong brands using integrated marketing methodologies, as well as experience managing long-range growth plans. Ms. Thomas will be responsible for all aspects of traditional and interactive marketing for the company.
IMI names 2 regional sales managers
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—International Marketing Inc. (IMI) has hired two industry veterans as regional sales managers.
Tim Buerman brings more than 13 years of commercial truck tire and trucking experience to Chambersburg-based IMI. He previously was a territory manager for Royal Tire One in Saint Cloud, Minn., and also held various positions with Granite City Ready Mix in St. Cloud, including wheel time as a Class-A CDL-licensed driver, IMI said. He will be responsible for IMI's sales activities in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Chad Gould also has 13 years' experience in commercial truck tire sales. He began his career as a commercial tire sales engineer with Goodyear's Wingfoot Commercial Tire in Waterloo, Iowa, before being promoted to center manager of the facility. IMI said Mr. Gould also served as a commercial account manager for Goodyear.
Prior to joining IMI, he was center manager for Graham Tire in Des Moines, Iowa. He will cover Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas for IMI.
As regional sales managers, IMI said Messrs. Buerman and Gould will provide front-line customer support in the field and also be responsible for new business development and relationship management with distributors, dealers and fleets.
GITI Tire hires Monico as Canadian sales mgr.
TORONTO—GITI Tire USA Ltd. has hired Lou Monico, formerly with Bridgestone Canada Inc., to be its national sales manager for Canada.
Mr. Monico will handle all inquiries in Canada regarding GITI's GT Radial, Primewell, Roadway and Runway products, according to Tom McNamara, GITI Tire's vice president of sales and marketing.
Mr. Monico spent nearly two decades with Bridgestone, most recently as manager, franchise group. He will continue to be based in Toronto.
GITI sells to customers in Canada through container-load shipments only, Mr. McNamara said.