Tony M. Orlando Appointed President of Bridgestone Agricultural Tire
Nashville, Tenn. (February 17, 2015) – Bridgestone Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales (BAAG), a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO), today announced that Tony M. Orlando has been appointed to lead agricultural tire operations. As President for BAAG, Orlando will lead the development and execution of the strategic direction of the North American agricultural tire business.
Orlando brings 27 years of experience, including 26 of those years at BP. Orlando began his career at BP in 1988, joining the company as a manufacturing process engineer. Rising through the ranks, Orlando has served in many roles including strategy development, financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, joint venture management, business development and sales & marketing. Orlando also spent several years of his BP career in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. Most recently, Orlando was Vice President and managed several global partnerships in the U.S. mobility and retail market space.
“Tony’s extensive customer strategy, innovation, sales and marketing experience and proven leadership skills will be a significant asset to our team,” said Kurt Danielson, President, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales. “Tony will lead the development and execution of the strategic direction of our North American agricultural tire business, working closely with the commercial tire business leaders to identify common and new opportunities and further position Bridgestone as a leader in agricultural solutions.”
Orlando earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA in finance and marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Orlando replaces Kenneth Allen, who retired last June.
About Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division (BAAG), Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, is the industry leader in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of market-leading Firestone agricultural tires. BAAG’s Des Moines, Iowa, facility is located in the heart of America’s farm belt and supplies approximately half of the agricultural tires consumed by North American original equipment manufacturers as well as being the leading agricultural tire supplier in the North American replacement market. Firestone agricultural tires can be found on farm tractors, planting and harvesting equipment and other farm implements in North America and around the world. In addition BAAG markets and sells forestry, ATV and construction tires. BAAG also operates a testing facility, located in Columbiana, Ohio, which is the only facility in the world solely dedicated to the development and testing of agricultural tires.
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, as well as retreads, to its customers in the Americas.