CHRISTINE KARBOWIAK
Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Vice President, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Vice President and Senior Officer, Bridgestone Corporation
With more than 20 years of service with Bridgestone Americas, Christine Karbowiak serves as the company’s Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer, positions she has held since April 2010, July 2011 and March 2015 respectively. She previously served as Vice President of Public Affairs, and immediately prior to her current position, as Executive Vice President of Community and Corporate Relations. As of March 29, 2011, Karbowiak was elected Vice President and Officer of Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ).
In her role as Chief Administrative Officer, Karbowiak oversees all of Bridgestone Americas’ risk and reputation management departments, including community and corporate relations, environmental, corporate security, safety and industrial hygiene, and internal audit. Her responsibilities include oversight of the company’s government relations function and she also serves as Chair of the company’s philanthropic arm, The Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund. Effective Jan. 1, 2009, Karbowiak was appointed to the Bridgestone Americas Board of Directors, the first woman to serve on the board of a major Bridgestone Group company.
Prior to becoming a Vice President in 1998, Karbowiak worked her way up through the legal ranks of BSAM. She joined the company’s Retail Operations as Senior Counsel in June 1992 and advanced to the position of Assistant General Counsel one year later. Early in 1997, Karbowiak accepted the role of General Counsel for the company’s corporate and international operations, a position she held for 21 months before assuming her role as Vice President of Public Affairs. In 2009, she was named Executive Vice President of Community & Corporate Relations. Karbowiak also serves on the board of Bridgestone Brands, LLC.
Before joining the BSA family, Karbowiak was an Associate at the law firm of Quinn, Jacobs & Barry and served as an attorney with G.D. Searle and Company (later, The NutraSweet Company). She holds both a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois.
Karbowiak has been involved in a variety of community organizations and volunteer efforts. She currently serves on a number of boards and advisory committees, including: the Jennings Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University (advisory board); Tennessee State Museum; Japan America Society of Tennessee, Chair; Tennessee Business Roundtable, Executive Committee member; Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee member; Franklin American Mortgage Company Music City Bowl, Chair and Executive Committee Member; Tennessee Performing Arts Center; Invent Now, Inc., and Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry, past Chair. She has been recognized for her volunteer and community activities, including being named Volunteer of the Year by the Nashville Chapter of the YMCA and the Nashville Sports Council, a Nashville Business Journal Woman of Influence, a YWCA Academy of Women of Achievement honoree, and has been named a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Illinois, College of Law. She has also been recognized as one of Nashville’s top “50 Sports Pioneers and Players” by Celebrate Sports in Nashville magazine.