MUMBAI, India — Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) has hired former Carlstar Group and Michelin Group executive Lawrence Harmon to be president – global OE business and growth segments, tasked with growing YOHT's original equipment business on a global basis.
"As we continue on our growth trajectory, it is imperative that we increase our focus on OEM customers as well as new product segments," Nitin Mantri, head of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.'s Off-Highway Tires Division.
"I ... look forward to his expertise to lead and grow our OEM business. He will also drive our assembly business to maturity with OEMs who require complete assembly solutions."
Harmon also will be a member of the YOHT executive committee. He will be based in the U.S.
Yokohama's YOHT business unit doubled in size earlier this year when it completed the acquisiton of Trelleborg Wheel Systems.
"The global reach of Yokohama Off-Highway Tires is remarkable," Harmon said. "The company is well positioned for continued growth and I am very happy to be a part of that journey. More importantly, I look forward to enhancing the customer-focused culture of Yokohama Off-Highway Tires to become an easier company to do business with."
Harmon brings 27-plus years of industry experience to his new position.
He has been executive vice president, global sales and marketing for Carlstar Group for the past seven years. Prior to that he was with Michelin North America Inc. for over 19 years in a variety of sales positions.
YOHT specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of agriculture, forestry, construction, industrial, earthmoving, mining, port and other commercial tires. It goes to market under a number of brand names, including Alliance, Galaxy, Primex and Yokohama OTR.
