RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (Feb. 2, 2017) — Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc. (SRNA) has hired former Pirelli Tire North America and Goodyear sales executive David Colletti to be vice president, original equipment.
He succeeds Shoichi Fujii, who is taking on new responsibilities at parent Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.'s headquarters in Kobe, Japan.
SRNA noted that Mr. Colletti brings nearly two decades of OEM experience to his new role. He worked for Pirelli from mid-2007 through year-end 2016 and for Goodyear from 1998-2005, according to his LinkedIn page.
"We are delighted to have someone with the depth of David's experience join our rapidly expanding original equipment program," SRNA President and CEO Richard Smallwood said.
"We see the continued expansion of Falken-branded tires on additional OE fitments as a key growth catalyst for the brand over the next several years, and David is the right choice to lead our OE team."
Rancho Cucamonga-based SRNA markets Falken-brand tires to the OE and replacement markets, Dunlop-brand motorcycle tires to the OE and replacement markets, Dunlop-brand car and light truck tires tires to the U.S. assembly plants of the Japanese vehicle makers and and Ohtsu-brand tires to the replacement market.
The firm made OE fitments with U.S. car companies a top priority shortly after it was was established in 2015 following the dissolution of the 16-year-long global alliance with Goodyear as part of its strategy to improve its Falken brand market position in North America.
With the help of domestic manufacturing capacity at the Tonawanda, N.Y., factory acquired from Goodyear, SRNA hopes to corner at least a 5-percent OE market share in the U.S. by 2019, according President and CEO Richard Smallwood.