WASHINGTON — The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) has elected Alexis Garcin, president and CEO of Michelin North America Inc., chairman of the board of directors, succeeding Bridgestone Americas Inc. President and CEO Paolo Ferrari.
Garcin was elected to two-year term during a formal vote at a USTMA's board meeting of on October 11.
"Alexis brings decades of global leadership experience to the helm of the U.S. tire manufacturing industry at a significant turning point for both tire safety and environmental sustainability," Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO, said.
"His work will build on the strong contributions of our outgoing chair, Paolo Ferrari, who saw USTMA through a critical post-COVID recovery and championed major new, innovative approaches to our industry's joint efforts to develop more sustainable products."
Garcin joined Michelin in 2002 and became chairman and president of Michelin North America in 2019. He previously served in numerous roles in France, Switzerland, Germany and U.S.
"I am very honored to serve as chairman of the USTMA board at a time of transformation in the tire industry," Garcin said.
"Since joining the board four years ago, I have witnessed firsthand how the USTMA is driving progress toward a safe, sustainable and innovative tire industry, and I look forward to continuing this journey with my fellow USTMA leaders."
The USTMA also elected two new board members: David K. Chapman of Michelin North America and James Tsai of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas (TTHA).
Chapman is vice president of public affairs for Michelin North America, overseeing public policy efforts in both the U.S. and Canada. He previously ran Michelin's government and defense sales business. Chapman joined Michelin after a 30-year career in the U.S. Army, where he held leadership roles throughout his service, including command of the Defense Language Institute's Foreign Language Center in Monterrey, California.
Tsai is general counsel and secretary of TTHA, the holding company for the North American operations of Toyo Tire Corp., a role he's held since 2016. He joined the TTHA legal department in 2011, after spending 15 years in private practice specializing in corporate law. He's a member of the bar in Illinois, California and Washington, D.C.
