NEWSMAKERS: Movers & Shakers of 2015

AKRON (Dec. 23, 2015) — The group of "newsmakers" selected by Tire Business for 2015 is a mix of domestic and international, manufacturer and distributor, combined with those on opposite sides of key issues and financial gamesmanship.

The newsmakers pictured on the cover of Tire Business' Dec. 7 issue depict what the publication's editorial staff feels reflect the major issues and stories of 2015.

A few are resolved, while others will continue to make headlines heading into 2016. 

The newsmakers for 2015 are:

China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina) completed its systematic $7 billion merger/takeover of Pirelli & C. S.p.A. throughout the second half of 2015. ChemChina Chairman Ren Jianxin is now also chairman of Pirelli, while longtime Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera becomes executive vice chairman.

Mavis Discount Tire Co-CEOs David and Stephen Sorbaro, backed by their minority investor partner ONCAP Group, acquired Somerset Tire Service Inc. (STS) of Bridgewater, N.J., creating a 324-store retail network throughout a five-state area.

As 2015 wound to a close, Bridgestone Americas Inc. (led by CEO Gary Garfield) and Icahn Enterprises L.P. (under the direction of investor Carl Icahn) were battling for control of auto parts and services retailer Pep Boys–Manny, Moe & Jack.

Sweden's Trelleborg A.B. is buying Czech agricultural and industrial tire maker Mitas a.s., creating what might become the world's largest ag tire maker, for about $1.25 billion. Trelleborg President and CEO Peter Nilsson and Trelleborg Wheel Systems President Maurizio Vischi will oversee the integration of Mitas into Trelleborg.

Goodyear Chairman and CEO Richard Kramer was busy all year juggling the company's entry into online retailing, the construction of a plant in Mexico and the dissolution of the firm's 16-year-old global alliance with Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., the latter of which plays into Falken Tire Corp.'s aggressive growth plans for North America, including the Sumitomo subsidiary's partnership with Major League Baseball under the guidance of President and CEO Richard Smallwood.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association and Tire Industry Association found themselves on opposite sides of the debate over voluntary vs. mandatory tire registration. RMA President and CEO Charles Cannon is retiring, leaving TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield Jr. to carry on the debate with his successor Anne Forristall Luke.