Bridgestone names Seidel to new sales post

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 10, 2015) — Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has promoted Erik Seidel to the newly created role of vice president of sales,

The tire maker also has named Brad Booth director of consumer dealer sales and Mike Hall director of consumer customer service.

“These three promotions are strategic moves that will strengthen our ability to service our customers and our end-user consumers,” said John Baratta, president of U.S. and Canada consumer replacement tire sales — a position he has held for about eight years.

A Bridgestone spokesperson explained that, prior to this promotion, Mr. Baratta was the vice president of consumer replacement sales for U.S. and Canada. When he accepted the president position, he did not hire another vice president of sales, instead dividing the sales team into two director positions: director of dealer sales (a position held by Rudy Beach, who retired earlier this year); and director of national customers (a position that continues to be held by Steve Rammer.)

Mr. Baratta said Messrs. Seidel, Booth and Hall “have demonstrated their ability to cultivate strong relationships and build trust, and their leadership will allow us to find new and innovative ways to grow our business and the businesses of our customers.”

As vice president of consumer replacement tire sales, Mr. Seidel will be responsible for consumer tire sales across the U.S. and Canada, which includes tire dealers; national customers; purchase/resale; car dealers; Bridgestone Retail Operations; government sales; and motorcycle tire division sales.

Mr. Seidel joined the company as vice president of brand marketing in 2013, Bridgestone added, and has been instrumental in bolstering the Bridgestone and Firestone brands in key consumer metrics such as brand awareness, purchase consideration and purchase intent. Prior to joining the Nashville-based tire maker, Mr. Seidel worked at Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Mr. Booth will be responsible for all dealer channel sales, as well as motorcycle tire division sales. He has been with Bridgestone for 27 years, where he has held various positions in marketing, sales and operations.

In his previous role as director, consumer operations and sales programs, Bridgestone said Mr. Booth was responsible for developing programs and strategies for U.S. and Canadian replacement tire sales.

Mr. Hall, a 22-year Bridgestone veteran, will assume the role of director of consumer customer service. In that position, the company said he will lead a team of 35 customer service representatives who manage order entry, fulfillment and all aspects of customer deliveries.

Mr. Hall began his career with Bridgestone in customer service, and after eight years in that area was transferred to sales/demand planning and then landed in consumer sales, according to the company.