AKRON—It was a busy year for many executives in the tire and automotive service industries and related businesses.
Here are some of the various management changes that occurred:
Advance Auto Parts Inc.
IN: David Allen, senior vice president of supply chain management.
Alliance Tire Americas Inc.
IN: Bruce Besancon, vice president of marketing.
UP: Seth Walters promoted to vice president of operations.
IN: James (Jim) Clark as president.
American Tire Distributors Holdings Inc. (ATD)
UP: Wes Stephenson promoted to vice president of operations for its Tire Pros retail franchise subsidiary.
Apollo Tyres Ltd.
IN: Seshu Bhagavathula appointed chief technology officer.
UP: Re-designated Sunam Sarkar, its president and chief financial officer, to president and chief business officer.
IN: Mathias Heimann to oversee its business interests in Europe and the Americas and to be CEO of Apollo Vredestein B.V., Apollo's manufacturing and sales subsidiary in Enschede, Netherlands.
Automotive Maintenance & Repair Association (AMRA)
UP: Joseph M. Henmueller, named the organization's president.
Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA)
IN: Corey Bartlett, president of Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. in St. Cloud, Minn., named chairman of the AWDA.
Belle Tire Inc.
UP: Don Barnes III promoted to president of retail operations.
BKT Tires Inc.
IN: Shawn Rasey, former head of Bridgestone Americas' mining tire business, hired to be president, BKT Americas' OTR Division.
IN: Siri Speegle, formerly with Bridgestone Americas, hired as OTR marketing manager.
IN: Adrian Leu as senior manager, hired as field technical services.
Brake Parts Inc.
IN: Kristin Grons, hired as marketing manager.
IN: Robert Pitt vice president, sales and global business development.
Bridgestone Americans Tire Operations
UP: Kurt Danielson, to president of U.S. and Canada Commercial Tire Sales business.
UP: Matt Loos, to director of truck and bus marketing.
UP: Michelle Lane, to director of off-the-road marketing of Bridgestone Commercial Solutions.
IN: T.J. Higgins, hired as president of the Consumer U.S. and Canada division.
Bridgestone Corp.
UP: Gary Garfield and Eduardo Minardi, promoted to the top executives at Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone Europe N.V./S.A., respectively, to senior vice presidents of the global corporation.
IN: Bridgestone Corp. Yves Kerstens as the chief operating officer (COO) of its European division (BSEU), based in Zaventem, Belgium.
Centric Parts
IN: Charlie Kirkland to the newly created position of director of sales for program groups.
Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C.
UP: Howard Laster, director of product management and new business development, Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket, to head of aftermarket, NAFTA.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
UP: Brad Hughes, president of International Operations
UP: Hal Miller, executive adviser to the CEO.
IN: Derek Carruthers, sales and marketing director, Cooper Tire Europe Ltd.
IN: Mark Chung, vice president, strategy and business development for the Americas.
IN: Ginger Jones, vice president and chief financial officer.
IN: Tom Lause, treasurer, board of director.
CTP Transportation Products L.L.C.
IN: Chris Peetz, chief operating officer.
Dunn Tire L.L.C.
UP: David Simons, executive vice president; retains CFO title.
Driven Brands Inc.
UP: Danny Rivera, president of its Meineke Car Care Centers L.L.C. brand, filling a position vacated by Paul Clayton in June; was chief information officer since 2012.
Falken Tire Corp.
UP: Ken Masaoka, to vice president, corporate planning.
Federal Corp.
UP: Jamie Ma, chairman and general manager.
UP: Shao-Jin Ma, president.
Federated Auto Parts
IN: Bob Resco, director of national accounts.
Gallagher Tire Inc.
IN: Peter Row, newly created role of market development/OTR specialist.
IN: Michael Picozzi, vice president of sales and marketing.
IN: Chris Klotz, director of business development.
IN: Nicholas Tufo, marketing and sales specialist.
Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.
UP: Armand Allaire, to executive vice president, sales and marketing.
UP: Tom McNamara, to executive vice president, business development.
IN: Patrick Gunn, director of sales and marketing, commercial tires.
IN: Daniel Gajewski, director, supply chain.
Goodyear
UP: Jack Winterton, to vice president, global sales and marketing
UP: Ryan Patterson, to president of North America Consumer, succeeding Mr. Winterton.
IN: Kristina Schnepf, vice president of communication for North America business unit.
IN: Christina Zamarro, vice president of investor relations.
IN: Richard Kellam, senior vice president, global sales and marketing.
IN: Jean-Denis Perche as general manager of its Middle East and Africa region.
Hankook Tire Co. Ltd.
UP: Ho-Youl Pae, to chief operation officer and head of the European business unit.
IN: Brett Emerson, sales director of Hankook Tyre U.K. Ltd. unit.
Horizon Tire Inc.
IN: Edward Fabrizio, vice president of sales-Southeast/Central Divisions.
The Hybrid Shop L.L.C.
IN: Dave Crawford, chief executive officer.
UP: Matt Curry, chief visionary officer.
IN: Jen Martin as marketing director.
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels (Cooper Tire subsidiary)
IN: Dominick Wycoff, vice president of business development.
IN: William Pasco, northeast regional marketing manager.
Myers Industries Inc.
IN: Alex Williamson, vice president and general manager of the distribution segment.
Nexen Tire Americas Inc.
IN: Kyle Roberts, director of marketing.
Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc.
IN: Bruce Ware, vice president of sales and operations.
Omni United USA
IN: Mike Bicknell, vice president of dealer sales and marketing.
Pep Boys — Manny, Moe & Jack
IN: John J. Kelly, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer.
OUT: Mike Odell, resigned as president.
UP: John Sweetwood, interim CEO until replacement for Mr. Odell is found.
Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
UP: Paolo Ferrari, CEO of Pirelli Latin America.
UP: Pierluigi Dinelli, chairman and CEO of Pirelli's NAFTA region, succeeding Mr. Ferrari; was CEO for Pirelli Italia.
Purcell Tire & Rubber Co.
IN: Roger Lucas, CEO, replacing company co-owner Robert Purcell, who continues as chairman of the board.
Specialty Equipment Market Association
IN: Ira Gabriel, executive team as vice president of marketing.
SURE Tire Co.
IN: Lou Fontana, president, replacing Patrick McLaughlin, who retired.
TBC Corp.
IN: John Kairys, executive vice president and general manager of Carroll Tire Co., a subsidiary of TBC Corp.
UP: Erik R. Olsen, chairman of the board; retains president and CEO titles.
Tenneco Inc.
UP: Josep Fornos, executive vice president, Clean Air unit.
Tire Group International L.L.C.
IN: Kevin O'Brien, vice president of strategic accounts.
IN: Rishi Raj Bhatnagar, territory manager, covering the African market.
Titan International Inc.
UP: Paul Reitz, president.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd.
UP: Akira Nobuki, chairman.
UP: Tomoshige “Tomo” Mizutani president of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.; retains roles as president of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. and general manager of Toyo's Nitto brand.
UP: Kiyohito Hasumi, president of Nitto Tire Canada Inc. in addition to his duties as president of Toyo Tire Canada Inc.
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.
UP: Dan Funkhouser, director of commercial dealer business.
UP: Takaharu Fushimi, CEO of Yokohama Corp. of North America.