Bridgestone Retail names new COO

BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. (Oct. 11, 2016) — Bridgestone Americas has promoted Damien Harmon to chief operating officer (COO) of its Bridgestone Retail Operations L.L.C. (BSRO) subsidiary.

Mr. Harmon, who previously was vice president of operations for the Nashville, Tenn.-based tire maker, also will serve as interim president for BSRO, filling in for Stu Crum, who left Bridgestone recently to become COO of Service King Collision Repair Centers.

“Damien has been an influential and strategic member of the BSRO leadership team, responsible for transforming the organization at the national, regional and store levels,” said TJ Higgins, president, consumer integrated tire division, U.S. & Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

“We are looking forward to seeing him continue to foster the growth and success of Bridgestone's retail network.”

Bloomingdale-based BSRO operates a network of more than 2,200 tire and automotive service centers nationwide under the Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus, Michel Tires Plus and Wheel Works banners.

As COO, Mr. Harmon will be responsible for strategic and operational leadership of BSRO, including service capability, customer retention, information technology and business development, according to the company.

He will continue to focus on achieving the unit's “Vision 2020” strategic transformation, “leading its operational shift to create a world-class customer experience across the company's retail network,” BSRO said.

Mr. Harmon joined the subsidiary in 2014 from Richfield, Minn.-based Best Buy Co. Inc.,  where he was vice president of category and merchandising operations, developing a multi-unit business strategy and merchandising and marketing programming at the corporate and field levels.