SANTA ANA, Calif. — Yokohama Tire Corp. has promoted Jeremy Kahrs to vice president of research and development at the Yokohama Development Center America (YDCA) facility, located in Cornelius, N.C.
Kahrs. formerly senior director of YDCA, will oversee all daily operations at the facility. He will report directly to Jeff Barna, president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corp.
"Jeremy's technical expertise, along with his passion for engineering, and his strong dedication to support the R&D team have greatly contributed to YDCA's success," Barna said.
Former YDCA Vice President Tom Kenny will take on an executive technical adviser position to define and oversee strategic projects and continue to support YDCA development, according to Barna.
"Tom has been instrumental in establishing YDCA as a true technical center for the U.S.," Barna said.
"In this new capacity, he will continue to work closely with the development team to make recommendations on future development, product testing and quality improvements."
YTC opened the YDCA — which consolidated dozens of R&D staffers from other facilities around the country — in 2018. The 25,000-sq.-ft. facility is considered Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.'s largest overseas R&D center in both function and number of employees.
