Bridgestone exec Hara returning to Japan

AKRON (Feb. 17, 2015) — After a combined 16 years in the Akron community, Bridgestone Americas (BSA) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Hideo “Hank” Hara will return to Bridgestone Japan, effective March 24, to assume the role of Bridgestone fellow.

Mr. Hara first relocated from Japan to BSA in 1992 as an engineering manager, returning to his native Japan after six years stateside. He was reassigned to the Americas for a five-year stint beginning in 2001 as divisional vice president of technology planning. His third, and current, assignment brought Mr. Hara back to the U.S. as CTO in 2010. The role that required him to work closely with all of BSA's research and technology operations, the majority of which are located in Akron, the Nashville-based firm said.

In his new role as a Bridgestone fellow, the tire maker said Mr. Hara will serve as an advisor to the company and work with various communications functions to represent Bridgestone's “technology position and narrative across key markets.”

Gary Garfield, CEO and president of BSA, said Mr. Hara's “energy, commitment and infectious good humor, along with his knowledge, creativity and innovative approach to technology and product development, have been an extraordinary asset to BSA. While we will miss his day-to-day presence here, we are excited for him as he embarks on this new career path.”

Following Mr. Hara's return to Japan, BSA's Center for Research & Technology and the Guayule Rubber Projects in Arizona — the Bridgestone Biorubber Process Research Center and the Bridgestone Agro Operations — will report to Steve Shelton, the company's senior vice president technology, manufacturing and procurement. Reporting to Mr. Shelton will be Steve Charles, vice president of product development, who will continue in that capacity and serve as the Americas Technical Center site leader and the firm's Akron community ambassador.