FAIRLAWN, Ohio (May 6, 2013) — BKT Tires USA Inc. has hired Carl Casalbore to be president of its U.S. operations, effective May 6.
Mr. Casalbore's appointment comes several weeks after the departure of Rami Bitran, manager of the Fairlawn-based U.S. subsidiary of India's Balkrishna Industries Ltd. Mr. Bitran had been with BKT since 2002.
Mr. Casalbore has more than 30 years' experience in the tire industry, most recently as vice president of sales for Zafco International L.L.C., the Doral, Fla.-based subsidiary of Zafco Trading L.L.C., the international distributor of the Zeetex brand that's also bringing the Amstrong brand back to the market.
Prior to working with Zafco, he was a partner and vice president of sales and marketing for Barron's Wholesale Tire Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla., and was director, independent dealer channel, for the passenger/light truck replacement sales and marketing business unit of Continental Tires the Americas L.L.C.
Mr. Casalbore will operate out of BKT's Fairlawn office and work closely with BKT's headquarters in India, according to the tire maker.
Bob Rick, Zafco's finance manager, told Tire Business the company is "restructuring our sales team across the U.S. and, for the time being, we will not have one single sales leader."