WOODSTOCK, Canada (Oct. 16, 2006) - Firestone Fibers and Textiles (FSFT) is announcing the promotion of Robert Galway to the position of General Manager at its Woodstock, Canada, facility following the December departure of current General Manager John McQuade. Galway officially joins FSFT on Nov. 1, and McQuade will begin transitioning his duties to Galway over the next two months.

Galway joined the company’s Canadian operations in 1990, and has worked as Director of Finance for Bridgestone Firestone Canada (BFCA), an affiliate of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT), since 2001. He has played an instrumental role in overseeing the real estate and information technology groups and has successfully worked alongside the sales and marketing teams to support the company’s business plans.

“While John’s experience at Woodstock will certainly be missed, we believe Robert will be an excellent addition to Fibers and Textiles,” said Jaggy Anand, President of FSFT. “Robert’s knowledge of the functioning of the tire company will also be a great asset because of the close interface between these two companies.”

Galway holds an accounting diploma from the Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto, Ontario. He and his wife, Beverly, currently reside in Mississauga, Ontario, and have four children: sons Devin and Lian, and daughters Shannon and Siobhan.

McQuade has managed the Woodstock facility for the last three years, and his impressive career with the Firestone and Bridgestone Americas family spans more than 40 years. He began his career with Firestone in England in 1964 and has held positions in many diverse parts of the company, including assignments in Hamilton, Ontario; Russellville, Ark.; LaVergne, Tenn.; Wilson, N.C.; and as Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for BFNT in Nashville, Tenn.