Giti Tire hires Fulton, Mayfield, promotes Monico

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Giti Tire Group has hired industry veterans Tim Fulton and Jim Mayfield and promoted Lou Monico in moves designed to support market demand and growth opportunities in North America.

Messrs. Fulton and Mayfield join Giti as chief operating officer and senior executive vice president of sales and marketing, respectively, while Mr. Monico becomes vice president of sales and marketing for Canada, with concurrent responsibility for corporate accounts.

Mr. Fulton joins Giti after 32 years with Group Michelin, where he held domestic and international senior management positions in finance, sales, supply chain and manufacturing, Giti said. Most recently he was vice president of BFGoodrich global operations, manufacturing and supply chain. Prior to joining Michelin, Mr. Fulton served as a naval officer in the Naval Nuclear Power Program.

He reports to Enki Tan, chairman of Giti Tire Group and president of Giti Tire Manufacturing USA.

Mr. Mayfield brings more than 36 years of tire industry experience in sales and marketing positions with tire companies in the U.S., including his most recent position as executive vice president of sales and marketing at Kumho Tire USA Inc.

He also has held replacement and OE market sales positions in both consumer and commercial segments with Michelin North America Inc., Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., Yokohama Tire Corp. and Toyo Tire USA Inc.

He reports to Chris Bloor, executive director of Giti Tire global sales and marketing.

Mr. Monico joined Giti in 2010 as national sales manager for Canada, moving from Bridgestone Canada Inc. after a two-decade career there.

The moves are in line with Giti Tire's expansion strategy in North America. The company initiated production at its passenger and light truck tire plant in South Carolina last year and is expanding its commercial tire and original equipment business.

The company is considered the No. 11 tire producer globally, with 2016 sales of $3.03 billion.