MUMBAI, India — CEAT Ltd. has promoted one of its own as the new chief executive of the Indian tire maker's CEAT Specialty off-highway tires business unit.
Amit Tolani, who has been with CEAT since 2004, most recently as chief marketing officer, was named chief executive of CEAT Specialty, the tire maker's business unit dedicated to off-road specialty tires.
The move was effective June 1.
Ryan Loethen continues as president of CEAT Specialty Tires Inc., the Charlotte, N.C.-based subsidiary set up in 2017 to serve the North American agricultural and off-the-road tire markets. Mr. Loethen reports to Mr. Tolani.
"This is an exciting time for CEAT Specialty as we increase our distribution footprint across North America and provide products that meet the needs of farming operations of all sizes," Mr. Tolani said in a statement.
With a trend toward higher horsepower and capacity for both tractors and sprayers, CEAT said it has expanded its very high flexion (VF) range of radial tires in that space to allow for increased tire loadability.
The new chief executive also indicated the company continues work to expand capacity at its Ambernath, India, tire plant.
"We are on track to complete the first phase of capacity expansion of our ag radial plant in Ambernath," he said.
"Further, we have committed capital expenditure to increase the capacity to three times of current in the next 18 months. This will further reduce our lead times."
Ceat hired Mr. Loethen, formerly a Michelin North America sales executive, in January as president of CEAT Specialty Tires, responsible for sales in North and Central America.
CEAT Ltd. is ranked as the No. 4 tire maker in India and No. 30 worldwide, according to Tire Business calculations.