AKRON — P. David Jones has retired as president of tire production machinery supplier Mesnac Americas Co. Ltd., ending a 50-year career in the tire industry.
Mr. Jones has held a variety of leadership positions in several countries, including Europe, Central America and North America. He joined Mesnac in 2011 following Mesnac Co. Ltd.'s acquisition of Wyko Tire Technology, which at that time was owned jointly by Mr. Jones and his business partner Ian Smith.
Qingdao, China-based Mesnac did not name a successor.
"David has given tremendous support and leadership to our Americas regional base," Mesnac Americas CEO Jerry Gu said. "His experience and leadership qualities have been invaluable in the expansion of our business and the establishment of the Mesnac brand. We wish David and his wife Joan all the best in their retirement."
After the Wyko integration, Mr. Jones was appointed to the Mesnac Americas Regional position and provided leadership for the company's expansion into North and Latin America, achieving manufacturing equipment supply approval to a number of global tire customers.
He also helped establish Mesnac Brazil and the Mesnac Research & Technical Center in Akron and was involved in the acquisition of the Akron-based Test Measurement Systems Inc. (TMSI), a developer and maker of scientific and test-engineering systems for the tire and automotive industries.
Mesnac produces tire manufacturing machinery and is active in industrial software application and new rubber materials research.