WEIHAI, China—Triangle Tyre Group Co. Ltd. has hired former Goodyear Asia-Pacific executive Pierre Cohade to be its CEO, a move the company said would strengthen its drive to globalize.
“Pierre,...having worked in three multinationals and four continents over 30 years, will focus on the globalization strategy,” Triangle Chairman Ding Yuhua said.
Mr. Cohade will enhance the manufacturing, marketing and sales, R&D, talent development and leadership and will “lead the modernization of Triangle governance and management practices and policies,” he said.
“We will become OE supplier to global brands and expand our (replacement) market presence in key countries,” Mr. Cohade said in a prepared statement.
He added that under his leadership, Triangle would pursue three critical corporate competencies: product leadership, manufacturing excellence and branded business.
Mr. Cohade was with Goodyear for seven years, as president of that firm's Asia-Pacific region from 2004-2011. He left Goodyear in late 2011. At that time, Goodyear lauded Mr. Cohade's efforts in helping the Asia-Pacific region grow.
Most recently he was an adviser for ChinaVest Ltd., a Wells Fargo affiliate.
According to Tire Business' annual ranking of the world's tire makers, Triangle is considered the third largest tire maker in China and 15th largest worldwide, based on its fiscal 2013 sales of $2.7 billion.
The company recently celebrated its 39th year in business, where Mr. Ding outlined the company's goals: build a “smart” factory; build scientific innovation system; promote global marketing; build a talent team; and establish development pattern balancing economic, environmental and social responsibility.
The tire maker is represented in the U.S. by Triangle Tire North America L.L.C., a recently established subsidiary in partnership with Oriente Triangle Latin America Inc. Triangle also has a research and development unit in Akron.