Falken Tire promotes 2 execs

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2013) — Falken Tire Corp. has promoted two executives in its financial and human resources departments.

Peter Buck becomes chief financial officer from his previous post as vice president and controller, and Vivien Winneke has been named vice president of human resources after being director of HR.

The Rancho Cucamonga-based tire maker said Mr. Buck's continual improvement in Falken Tire's accounting and internal control processes led to his promotion.

Ms. Winneke has "energetically moved forward in accomplishing key goals" established by Richard Smallwood, president and CEO of Falken Tire, and has been instrumental in reshaping Falken's HR practices since her arrival at the company two years ago, Falken said. In her new position, Ms. Winneke also will join Falken's executive committee.

"Falken continues to outperform the tire industry as a whole, and it is due to the aggressive and talented individuals we are able to bring to our team," Mr. Smallwood said. "Over the past two years, Falken has continued to add staff, increase marketing investment and build a beautiful, new 60,000-sq.-ft. corporate office for our team.

"Being aggressive in a weak business environment has allowed us to become stronger and faster than those we have to compete with in this, the most competitive market in the world."

Mr. Smallwood added that both Mr. Buck and Ms. Winneke "exemplify the types of employees we have at Falken who continuously strive to improve the capabilities of our team and contribute to the culture of success that Falken has fostered over the past several years."

Falken operates distribution centers in California, Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey and Texas.