Garfield, Minardi among Bridgestone promotions

TOKYO (Aug. 8, 2014) — Bridgestone Corp. has promoted Gary Garfield and Eduardo Minardi, the top executives at Bridgestone Americas  and Bridgestone Europe N.V./S.A., respectively, to senior vice presidents of the global corporation.

The promotions, which are in addition to their current duties, were among 26 executive appointments Bridgestone disclosed.

In addition, Gordon Knapp and Christine Karbowiak of Bridgestone Americas were given the additional titles of vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone Corp., and Bill Thompson and Philip Dobbs were named vice presidents and officers of the Tokyo-based parent company.

Mr. Garfield, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas, has been a vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone since February 2011.

Mr. Minardi has been executive chairman of Bridgestone Europe since March, at which time he also was made a vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone Corp.

Mr. Knapp, COO of Bridgestone Americas and chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations since March, previously was an officer of Bridgestone Corp.

Ms. Karbowiak, chief administrative officer and executive vice president of Bridgestone Americas, previously was an officer of Bridgestone Corp.

Mr. Thompson, CFO of Bridgestone Americas, and Mr. Dobbs, chief marketing officer, U.S. and Canada consumer tire for Bridgestone Americas, previously did not have positions with the parent corporation.

Other promotions affecting the tire maker's global tire business include:

• Shingo Kubota and Kenishi Togami, both promoted to vice president and officer, assistant to senior vice president, responsible for international tire business operations.
• Mitsuhira Shimazaki, vice president and officer, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Russia tire business operations, international tire business operations.