Christine Karbowiak Named Bridgestone Americas Chief Administrative Officer

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  (March 24, 2010) - Christine Karbowiak, Executive Vice President, Community and Corporate Relations and member of the Board of Directors of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), has been named to the newly created position of Chief Administrative Officer for the company.  The appointment is effective April 1, 2010.

In addition to her current Community and Corporate Relations’ responsibilities (which includes government, media and community relations as well as internal communications and overall brand oversight for the BSAM family of companies), Karbowiak will also be responsible for the company’s Environmental Affairs, Internal Audit, Safety and Industrial Hygiene, and Corporate Security functions.

“Christine is a proven and trusted performer at Bridgestone Americas,” said Gary Garfield, CEO and President, BSAM.  “With her strategic vision, creativity and excellent problem solving skills I am very confident that she is the right leader to manage these important functions for Bridgestone Americas,” Garfield concluded.

Karbowiak joined the company’s Retail Operations in Rolling Meadows, Ill., as Senior Counsel in June 1992 and advanced to the position of Assistant General Counsel one year later. Early in 1997, Karbowiak relocated to Nashville and took on the role of Division 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. On January 1, 2009, Chris became a member of the Bridgestone Americas Board of Directors, becoming the first woman to serve on the Board of a major Bridgestone Group company.  In 2009, she was also named Executive Vice President of Community and Corporate Relations. Karbowiak also serves on the board of Bridgestone Brands, LLC. A native of Chicago, Ill., Karbowiak graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Journalism and a Juris Doctor degree.

Karbowiak serves on the following boards: Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund (Chair); Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Past Chair); Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (member of Executive Committee); Tennessee State Museum Foundation; Japan America Society of Tennessee (Chair, Nominating Committee); Tennessee Business Roundtable; and Franklin American Music City Bowl, (Chair; member, Executive and Selection Committees). She is an Advisory Board Member of the Joe C. Davis Camp—YMCA and Middle Tennessee State University’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business.