Prometeon revamps global structure, executive team

MILAN — Prometeon Tyre Group, the global business comprising Pirelli & C.'s former commercial tire business assets, has made several key executive appointments, including the promotion of Chief Operating Officer Murilo Fonseca to CEO of the company's Americas region.

The executive appointments are designed to strengthen Prometeon's presence in the various markets where it operates and are in line with the strategic interest of its shareholders to continue the integration process with ChemChina's Aeolus group, the Milan-based company said.

The executive appointments, all of whom report to Prometeon Chairman and CEO Giorgio Luca Bruno, are:

Murat Akyildiz, chief commercial officer, overseeing all structures related to sales reporting (marketing, OE, agro business and supply chain). Mr. Akyildiz, who joined Prometeon two years ago, was CEO of Great Europe (Turkey and Europe). He previously held various positions with P&G Group for over 20 years,

Alexandre Bregantim, chief technical officer, overseeing operational functions related to research and development, production and product quality report. He has been Prometeon's chief research/development and quality officer since 2016 and has more than 20 years' experience with Pirelli Tyre in R&D, manufacturing and quality in Brazil and China.

Alp Gunvaran, CEO of the Middle East/Africa, Turkey, Russia and Confederation of Independent States business area. A veteran executive of P&G, Mr. Gunvaran joined Prometeon in September 2016 as CEO of Turkey, East Europe, Russia & CIS.

Marco Solari, CEO of Europe region. Mr. Solari was global sales director and managing director of Italy, France, Spain, Nordics and Benelux since Prometeon formed in 2016; prior to that he was commercial director of Pirelli's truck business in Europe, MEA and Asia/Pacific (APAC) and chief commercial officer APAC for all Pirelli businesses.

Mr. Fonseca was Prometeon's COO and chief commercial officer for Latin America during Prometeon's start-up phase. He spent 20-plus years with Goodyear in various areas and positions, ending up as sales operations general manager, Latin America, before leaving Goodyear in 2012 to join SKF A.B. in Latin America. He joined Pirelli Tyre in 2015.

In addition, Yves Pouliquen continues as CEO of the APAC and India Region, a position he's held with Prometeon since late 2016. Prior to joining Prometeon, Mr. Pouliquen spent 18 years with Group Michelin in various positions within that company's Asia-Pacific business areas.

The Region managers also report functionally, for the respective areas of competence, to Messrs. Akyildiz and Bregantim

Prometeon, the manufacturer and distributor of Pirelli-branded truck, bus, agricultural and OTR tires, operates four factories (two in Brazil and one each in Egypt and Turkey) and employing 7,000.

It is 52-percent owned by TP Industrial Holding (which in turn is owned by Marco Polo International Italy), 38 percent by CINDA (a Chinese International Investment company) and 10 percent by Aeolus.

Prometeon is represented in North America by TP Commercial Solutions L.L.C., which is headed up by Alex Vitale, a former general manager of agricultural/OTR tires for Pirelli Tyre. The company operates out of San Diego.