NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 8, 2015) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced that in a move to continue to strengthen its commitment to customers and consumers, the company has promoted Erik Seidel to vice president of sales, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). The company also announced that it has promoted Brad Booth to director of consumer dealer sales, BATO, and Mike Hall to director of consumer customer service, BATO.
“These three promotions are strategic moves that will strengthen our ability to service our customers and our end-user consumers,” said John Baratta, president of U.S. and Canada consumer replacement tire sales, BATO. “As a premier place to work, it’s important for Bridgestone to foster and grow the company’s best talent. Erik, Brad and Mike have demonstrated their ability to cultivate strong relationships and build trust, and their leadership will allow us to find new and innovative ways to grow our business and the businesses of our customers.”
As vice president of consumer replacement tire sales, Seidel will be responsible for consumer tire sales across the U.S. and Canada, which includes the following segments: tire dealers, national customers, purchase/resale, car dealers, Bridgestone Retail Operations, government sales and motorcycle tire division sales. Seidel joined Bridgestone as vice president of brand marketing in 2013, and has been instrumental in bolstering the Bridgestone and Firestone brands in key consumer metrics such as brand awareness, purchase consideration and purchase intent. Prior to joining Bridgestone, Seidel worked at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, where he managed a number of world-class brands, including VIVA Towels, the Scott brand of paper towels and the Huggies brand of diapers and wipes. Seidel earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also earned an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a master’s degree in manufacturing management from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, both at Northwestern University.
Brad Booth, who has been promoted to director of consumer dealer sales, will be responsible for all dealer channel sales, as well as motorcycle tire division sales. Booth has a proven track record of success during his 27 years with Bridgestone, where he has held various positions in marketing, sales and operations. In his previous role as director, consumer operations and sales programs, Booth was responsible for developing programs and strategies for U.S. and Canadian replacement tire sales. Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Murray State University.
Additionally, Mike Hall, a 22-year veteran of Bridgestone, will assume the role of director of consumer customer service. In that position, he will lead a team of 35 customer service representatives that manage order entry, fulfillment and all aspects of customer deliveries. Hall began his career with Bridgestone in customer service, and after eight years in that area, he transferred to sales/demand planning. Hall then moved into consumer sales, where he held positions of increasing responsibility including area sales manager, regional marketing manager and assistant region general manager. Hall earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ashland University.
For more company news, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tennessee-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.
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.