Casalbore leaves BKT; Mehta to succeed him

FAIRLAWN, Ohio — Carl Casalbore, president of BKT Tires USA Inc. since May 2013, has left the company “to pursue other career goals.”

BKT has named Minoo Mehta, vice president of agricultural tire sales for BKT since last August, to succeed him.

Mr. Casalbore joined BKT from Zafco International L.L.C., the Doral, Fla.-based subsidiary of international tire distributor Zafco Trading L.L.C.

He has broad industry experience in a career spanning more than 30 years with a number of companies, including Barron's Wholesale Tire Inc. and Continental Tires the Americas L.L.C.

In announcing the change, BKT said Mr. Mehta will take over Mr. Casalbore's responsibilities, including securing growth in the U.S. replacement and OE markets.

BKT USA is the Fairlawn-based subsidiary of India's Balkrishna Industries Ltd. handling U.S. sales and service for agricultural, industrial and light construction product lines; BKT opened a separate office last year in Brentwood, Tenn., BKT Tires Inc., to handle sales and service for the company's mining and heavy construction tire products, including grader, earthmover, loader and compactor tires 1200-24 and larger. 

BKT hired former Bridgestone Americas and Yokohama Tire Corp. executive Shawn Rasey to head up that unit. Mr. Rasey has more than 35 years' experience in the tire industry, including seven with Bridgestone, where he was vice president, mining solutions, when he parted ways with the company in 2012.

Mr. Mehta joined BKT from Hercules Tire & Rubber Co., where he was director of commercial tires marketing. He has more than 40 years of international experience in business, mostly in the U.S. and Canada, according to BKT.

Among his previous employers were J.P. Morgan Tire Holding Co. and J.K. Tyre & Industries Ltd.