CYPRESS, Calif. — Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. has appointed Jim Hawk chairman and CEO of its U.S. subsidiary, Toyo Automotive Parts (USA) Inc., in addition to his duties as chairman of Toyo Tire Holdings of America Inc., Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. and president of Toyo Tire North America OE Sales L.L.C.
Toyo Automotive Parts (USA) was established in 2001 and focuses on the firm's auto parts segment, supplying the automotive industry with original equipment anti-vibration rubber parts and bushings from its plant in Franklin, Ky.
Mr. Hawk joined Toyo Tires in 2004 to oversee the planning and management of the firm's first tire plant in the U.S. — Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc., located in White, Ga.
The plant has expanded significantly since its inception, recently disclosing plans for an additional $125 million expansion project to add 2.4 million passenger tires per year to the firm's largest facility in the world. It is the fifth expansion project since its inception.
Mr. Hawk was promoted to chairman of Toyo Tire Holdings in 2012.
For his efforts in helping the firm expand its presence in the U.S., Mr. Hawk was named 2013 Rubber Industry Executive of the Year by Rubber & Plastics News, a Tire Business sister publication.