Bridgestone Americas Announces Law Department Promotions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 1, 2007) – Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) today announced promotions in its Law Department as well as in the Law Department of its subsidiary, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) which are effective June 1, 2007:
-- Gary Garfield, who is currently serving as Acting General Counsel of BSAH and holds the concurrent titles of Vice President and General Counsel of BFNT and Deputy General Counsel of BSAH, will be promoted to Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of BSAH, reporting to Mark A. Emkes, Chairman and CEO of BSAH and BFNT. Garfield succeeds Saul Solomon, who has accepted an assignment as Chairman, CEO and President of BSAH’s newly acquired subsidiary, Bridgestone Bandag, LLC.
-- Melissa McGuire, presently Division General Counsel, BSAH and General Counsel to Credit First National Association, Bridgestone Americas’ nationally chartered credit card bank, will be promoted to Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of BFNT, succeeding Garfield in that position. McGuire will report to Emkes.
According to Emkes, “We have a very deep ‘bench” in our Law Department and I am very pleased that we are able to draw on the strengths of our great in-house team to fill these extremely important positions. I have every confidence that both Gary and Melissa will do very well in their new assignments.”
Garfield, who holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, joined Bridgestone Firestone, Inc. (BFS) (a predecessor to BSAH and BFNT) in 1991 as a Senior Counsel in the company’s Nashville offices. He brings a broad background to his new position, having held a number of assignments with Bridgestone Firestone, and later the Bridgestone Americas family of companies, including General Counsel, Non-Product Litigation, BFS and Division General Counsel, BSAH. He assumed his responsibilities as BFNT Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in 2001, and accepted the additional concurrent position of Deputy General Counsel of BSAH in 2006. He has served as Acting General Counsel since December 2006.
McGuire, who earned her Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School, joined BFS in 1995 as a Senior Counsel II. Holding positions of increasing responsibility over her BSA career, including Division General Counsel, BSAH, and her concurrent position as General Counsel to CFNA, McGuire brings a wealth of experience to her new position, including having practiced law as a partner with the well-known law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman and Caldwell.
About Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation. BSAH, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies also produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles and operate the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.
About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural, and other tires to its customers in North America.