USTMA elects four new board members

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) elected four new board members at its Jan. 25 meeting.

The incoming board members — Alan Yarcusko of Bridgestone Americas, Blake Eaddy of Giti Tire (USA), Ryan Patterson of Goodyear and Curtis Brison of Hankook Tire North America — hold senior positions at four of the USTMA's 12 member companies.

"I am pleased to welcome these new members to USTMA's board of directors," President and CEO Anne Forristall Luke said.

"Now more than ever, it is important to bring fresh perspectives and critical strategic thinking from all of our member companies to help us navigate the challenges and opportunities before us. As we look to 2022 and to our future, I'm incredibly proud of the leadership and depth of experience our board members bring to the table at such an important time for the U.S. tire industry."

Here is more about the new members:

Alan Yarcusko is vice president, government and regulatory affairs and general counsel for diversified businesses at Bridgestone America where he leads an integrated advocacy function bringing together professionals in government affairs, technical standards and regulatory affairs.

Yarcusko is an engineer who began his career in the automotive electronics industry in Detroit. He joined Bridgestone Americas' law department in 2001 and was general counsel of litigation.

In 2012, he became director of technical standards and regulations for Bridgestone Americas and was an active member of the USTMA's tire policy committee and other task forces.

Alan returned to the law department in 2017 to serve as general counsel for eight Bridgestone business units, and he continues to serve in that role.

In 2020, Yarcusko became chair of Bridgestone's global standards and regulations function and in 2022 began leading the integrated advocacy function for Bridgestone Americas.

He has served on the boards of the Tire & Rim Association and several nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio and is part of the leadership team at the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center in Akron.

Blake Eaddy is the general counsel and secretary of Giti Tire (USA), a position he's held since 2016.

Ryan Patterson is the chief operating and integration officer of Goodyear's Americas region, where he leads the company's North America consumer and commercial businesses and is responsible for developing and executing the company's plan to integrate Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. He was involved in the development of the company's connected business model and its goto-market strategy.

Patterson previously was president of Goodyear's Asia Pacific and North American consumer business units.

Curtis Brison recently was promoted to president of Hankook Tire North America, succeeding Sooil Lee, who remains CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd.

In his new role, Brison oversees the U.S. and Canada regions, as well as leads four departments and direct teams including Hankook's Clarksville, Tenn., plant.

Brison also continues to oversee the U.S. passenger and light truck department, where he has been vice president since joining Hankook in 2020. Brison, who has 15 years of experience in the industry, has been instrumental in driving new product introductions and segment expansions in the U.S.

The new members succeed outgoing board members Enki Tan, executive chairman, president and CEO of Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.; Peter Jung, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Hankook Tire America Corp.; and Tom Lehner, vice president, government affairs, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

"I also want to thank our outgoing board members for their tremendous contributions, vision and leadership, especially during these last few challenging years,"  Forristall Luke said. "On behalf of the board and the USTMA team, I extend our sincerest gratitude and thanks to (the outgoing members)."