Morimoto to head Bridgestone Americas

TOKYO (Feb. 24, 2015) — Bridgestone Corp. has named Yoshiyuki Morimoto executive chairman of Bridgestone Americas Inc., succeeding Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, who has been named senior vice president of the firm's Diversified Products, Sports and Cycle business.

The appointments are effective March 24, Bridgestone said.

Mr. Morimoto continues at Bridgestone as a senior vice president of Bridgestone Corp. along with his new duties at Bridgestone Americas. A company veteran with more than 30 years' experience, Mr. Morimoto is assistant to senior vice president and chief technology officer for Bridgestone, responsible for technology, and a member of the board — positions he has held since November 2012.

He will help lead tire operations in the Americas, according to the company, and will be based in Nashville.

 

(Bridgestone Corp. photos)

Asahiki Nishiyama (left) and Yoshiyuki Morimoto

Throughout his career, Mr. Morimoto has been involved in almost every aspect of tire research and development. He first worked in passenger tire development and has held a variety of roles throughout his tenure with the company, including general manager of tire compound development; vice president and officer of tire research and material development.

In addition to his duties as senior vice president, Diversified Products, Sports and Cycle business, Mr. Nishiyama was named vice chairman of the Bridgestone International Organizing Committee, tasked with leading efforts around Bridgestone's Olympic Games sponsorship initiatives, which cover the summer and winter games through 2024.

Mr. Nishiyama joined Bridgestone in 1977 and has spent most of his 28-year career in the international division. He was vice chairman and president of Bridgestone Americas Holding from 2005 to 2009; vice chairman of Bridgestone Americas Inc. from 2009-10; chairman of Bridgestone Americas from 2010-2011 and executive chairman starting in January 2014.

This change coincides with a number of other key executive appointments Bridgestone Americas made in the past several days.

Among them are:

  • Tony Orlando, a BP P.L.C. executive, hired to be president of the tire maker's Bridgestone Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales, filling a position that's been vacant since June 2014.

  • Taylor Cole, an executive with Howden North America Inc., hired to be president of the Commercial OTR business unit.

  • Marshall Hyzdu, an executive with Ashland Inc.'s Valvoline brand, hired to be vice president of the tire maker's commercial tire division, overseeing marketing initiatives for Bridgestone's OTR and commercial truck and bus tire products. He succeeds Matthew Stevenson, who has moved to another, undisclosed position with the company.

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