Chuck Sinclair to Lead Goodyear Global Communications

AKRON, Ohio, June 10 -- Charles L. (Chuck) Sinclair has been named senior vice president, global communications of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company , reporting to president and chief executive officer Robert J. Keegan. Sinclair will be responsible for leading Goodyear's global team of communications professionals in the execution of a communications strategy and providing counsel to senior leadership on issues impacting the company.

Sinclair, 51, previously served as vice president, communications and public relations, for the company's North American Tire division. Sinclair replaces Robert J. O'Leary, who today was named senior vice president, public relations, community and government affairs of Goodyear customer Sears, Roebuck and Company.

"Chuck Sinclair is a highly regarded communications leader in our company and within our industry," said Robert J. Keegan, president and chief operating officer. "He has been an outstanding and trusted communications leader in our North American business and will bring that extensive experience and knowledge to the corporation as we continue to execute the company's turnaround strategy."

"I am very excited about the opportunities that present themselves to our company, and proud to be chosen to lead an excellent team of professional communicators around the globe," Sinclair said. "There is a lot of passion in Goodyear, a passion that I share, and an overall passion that ultimately will serve this company well as it reestablishes itself as the preeminent global tire supplier."

Sinclair joined Goodyear in 1984 as plant public relations manager in Lincoln, Nebraska. He moved to Goodyear's Akron headquarters in 1987, working in a variety of communications assignments. He served as public relations manager in 1989 and 1990 for what is now the Engineered Products division. He was named director of public relations for North American Tire in 1997 and vice president of communications and public relations for the division in March 2002.

An alumnus of the University of Nebraska, Sinclair and his wife Sandy have two grown children and reside in North Canton, Ohio.

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 85 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 92,000 people worldwide.