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Bridgestone Americas Announces Promotions and Leadership Changes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 12, 2010) — Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) today announced that Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), will be returning to Japan to accept a new assignment with Bridgestone Corporation. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, Nishiyama will be promoted to Vice President and Senior Officer, responsible for International Tire Business Operations, Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ).

In this role the following BSJ business units will report to him: Asia and Oceania Tire; China Tire; Middle East and Africa Tire; and the Specialty Tire Business Division. In addition, Nishiyama will have responsibility for the following divisions within BSJ: International Tire Business Administration; Middle East, Africa, Russia, Asia, Oceania and China Operations; Americas and Europe Operations; and International Retail Business Support. Masaaki Tsuya, a member of both the BSJ and BSAM Boards, and BSJ’s Vice President and Senior Officer, as well as that company’s Chief Risk-Management Officer, Chief Human Rights Officer and Officer Responsible for Corporate Administration, will temporarily serve as BSAM’s Chairman until Nishiyama’s successor is named; Tsuya will retain his duties and responsibilities with BSJ.

“Although Duke will be greatly missed here at Bridgestone Americas, we are thrilled about the opportunity this new role provides him,” said Gary Garfield, BSAM CEO and President. “We are also very pleased and excited to announce that Tsuya-san has agreed to serve as BSAM’s Chairman. Given his broad scope of responsibility combined with his clear understanding of the global business environment and BSA’s position within the Bridgestone Group, we are privileged to have Tsuya-san serve in this very important role.”

Also effective Jan. 1, 2011, Yasutaka Enoki, currently serving as President, Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology (BACRT), and Executive Vice President, Bridgestone Americas Product Development, has accepted a new position with Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (BSEU) at its Rome Technical Center (TCE). Enoki-san, who has been a member of the Bridgestone Americas team since 2008, will serve as BSEU’s Deputy Managing Director, TCE.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) also announced today leadership changes in its Product Development, BACRT, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management (LSCM) groups. All changes are effective immediately.

Steve Shelton, currently Vice President, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, has accepted the position of Vice President, Product Development, BATO. In his new role, Shelton will be responsible for all BATO tire development groups, as well as ATW (the race tire manufacturing facility) and the Akron, Ohio-based Product Development facilities.

Bob Handlos, currently Vice President, Product Development, has accepted the position of Vice President, Research, BACRT. Handlos will oversee the group responsible for research and polymer science technology.

Jason Poulton, currently Director, Research, has accepted the position of Director, Product Development and Technology Planning. In addition to supporting Shelton in his new role, Poulton’s responsibilities will include long-term strategic technical planning, communication and cooperation with BATO businesses and functional owners and all budgeting functions.

John McLaughlin, currently Manager, Special Projects, Manufacturing and Technology, has been promoted to the position of Director, Supply Planning and Sourcing within the LSCM group. In his new position, McLaughlin will be responsible for all supply, planning and sourcing functions for BATO, and will also be responsible for aligning the organization to more fully optimize and integrate supply chain management efforts on a global basis.

Tom Seitz, currently Director of Operations in LSCM responsible for the functions of Controller and transportation, will now also oversee the warehousing and private fleet functions within that group.

About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market 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 are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Americas and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.
About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations; the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses; the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industryleading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.