Crum exits Bridgestone, joins Service King

RICHARDSON, Texas (Oct. 11, 2016) — Stu Crum, president and  chairman of Bridgestone America Retail Operations L.L.C. (BSRO) for the past three-plus years, has left the company to become  chief operating officer (COO) of the nationwide chain Service King Collision Repair Centers.

Service King CEO Chris Abraham said Mr. Crum's “tremendously impressive background in the automotive industry…will immediately influence Service King's operations in a positive manner for our teammates, customers and business partners. We look forward to working together in our mission to be the collision repair operator of choice.”

Mr. Crum called Service King's executive team “world-class,” noting the company is in the midst of “explosive national growth, grounded in exceptional operations with a focus on the customer and its teammates. Service King's reputation for superior repair service and a family atmosphere makes this a phenomenal opportunity to join an already high-impact leadership team.”

Bridgestone named Damien Harmon as BSRO's interim president and promoted him to COO of the unit.

Mr. Crum joined Bridgestone in July 2013, moving from Jiffy Lube International Inc., where he had been president for two years. At that time he filled a position that had been vacant for seven-plus months.

As Service King's COO, Mr. Crum will provide national oversight of the company's network of 304 collision repair locations in 23 states.

Service King, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2016, has grown exponentially across the U.S., opening more than 100 new repair centers in the previous 24 months.

More information on Service King is available on the company's website.

The chain traces its roots back to Dallas and founder Eddie Lennox, who opened the first Service King location in 1976. The company was named the No. 1 Best Place to Work in 2015 by both the Dallas and San Antonio Business Journals.