Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Announces RealignmentSteve Shelton to Head New Integrated Group
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 6, 2013) – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations today announced the realignment of three key groups – Technology, Manufacturing and Procurement – to create a more integrated team equipped to more fully deliver on the company’s brand promise.
The realignment of these three areas is effective July 1 and will be led by Steve Shelton, who will be promoted to Senior Vice President, Technology, Manufacturing and Procurement, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. Shelton currently serves as that company’s Vice President, Product Development. In his new role, the manufacturing and procurement groups will report to Shelton; he will continue to be responsible for Bridgestone Americas’ tire development group and the Akron facility as well as the company’s race tire manufacturing operation. Shelton has 20-year tenure with Bridgestone Americas and has a broad base of experience across the company, experience which includes manufacturing (with a stint at the company’s Wilson, NC plant), process engineering development, and strategic marketing support to the consumer tire business in the product/process areas. In this newly created position, Shelton will be based in Nashville.
“As we aim to enhance our culture of high performance and establish our company as the undisputed leader in our industries, it is critical that we continually evaluate our operations to ensure we are delivering products and services that meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our many customers and end-users,” said Eduardo Minardi, Chairman, CEO & President, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. “I am excited about the alignment of these critical areas under Steve’s strong and visionary leadership. I’m confident that this new organizational structure will foster increased collaboration, communication and interdependence among key areas of our company and help us more quickly achieve our goals of high performance.”
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 Commercial Solutions Group, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.
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 Western Hemisphere 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.