Rasey to lead Conti's OTR biz from U.S.

HANNOVER, Germany (Feb. 19, 2016) — Continental A.G. has hired longtime tire industry veteran T. Shawn Rasey to be the global business development manager, earthmover, tasked with managing the international expansion of Conti's earthmover activities.

Mr. Rasey — a former Bridgestone Americas, Yokohama Tire Corp. and BKT Americas executive — will be based in the U.S., Conti said, where he will be close to the firm's targeted customer base. He will report to Christian Luther, Conti's product manager, earthmover tires.

In this role, Mr. Rasey brings an extensive background in the earthmover tire business ranging from sales, marketing, key account management, product planning, manufacturing and strategy, Conti said.

The tire maker's move into earthmover tires is still in its early stages, especially in North America. The company said its extending of the OTR product ranges will contribute to the “ongoing profitable growth” of the Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) business unit it launched in 2012, encompassing earthmoving, materials-handling and agriculture tires.

Conti's first radial OTR tires for earthmoving — namely the ContiEarth EM-Master and the ContiEarth RDT-Master — were launched recently in Europe.

“Our aim is to continuously expand our market shares and sales figures in the earthmoving business within the next months and years based on products that are tailored to fulfill our customer‘s demands,” Conti said, while declining to provide specific figures regarding its sales expectations.

Mr. Rasey brings more than 36 years' tire industry experience to his job with Conti, including two years with BKT Americas, seven (2005-12) with Bridgestone Americas and two with Yokohama Tire Corp.