Conti promotes 4 in U.S. passenger/LT sales area

FORT MILL, S.C. — Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. has promoted four veteran employees in its U.S. passenger and light truck (PLT) tire replacement sales organization, including the appointment of Chris Charity to vice president of sales, a new position in the organization.

The other promotions are: Sean McDermaid, to director of sales – distribution channel; Dan Hylton to director of sales – retail; and David Gibson to director of sales – car dealer and national and government accounts.

Conti said the promotions reflect growth it has experienced the past five years.

In his new role, Mr. Charity will be responsible for managing and directing the company's sales efforts across all replacement market channels in the U.S. market. He joined Continental in April 2002 and has held a variety of roles in the areas of sales management, key account management, product planning, and quality.

Mr. McDermaid will handle Continental's sales efforts related to distributors and independent dealers who purchase through those distributors; his efforts will include the continued growth of Contil's GOLD marketing program.

He joined Continental in 2007 and has held sales and sales management positions at progressively higher levels within the organization..

Mr. Hylton will be responsible for Conti's sales efforts with direct regional and national retail customers. He joined the firm in 1994 and has held a roles in the areas of key account management, pricing and finance.

Mr. Gibson will be responsible for developing and growing Continental's business with car dealers and national and government accounts. He joined Continental in 1996 and held various roles in its commercial vehicle and passenger/light truck tire sales organizations in key account management, sales management and operations.

Messrs. McDermaid, Hylton and Gibson will report to Mr. Charity in their new roles. Mr. Charity, in turn, will report to Bill Caldwell, vice president of sales and marketing.

"With the announcements made today, I am convinced that we are installing a strong and experienced sales management team that will continue to support our customers at the high level they have come to expect from Continental," Mr. Caldwell said.

"We are quite pleased with the growth we have experienced over the past years, and I believe this team will put us on an excellent path to continue this momentum."

Jim Sicking, who had been director of corporate sales for the past few years, left Conti in May and took a position with Hankook Tire America Corp.