Goodyear Names Former Groupe Danone, Kodak Executive to Head Asia-Pacific Region

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 3, 2004 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced today that Pierre E. Cohade, formerly executive vice president of the worldwide water and beverage division of global leader Groupe Danone, will become president of Goodyear's Asia-Pacific region. Cohade, who spent the majority of his career in international positions with Eastman Kodak, will replace Hugh D. Pace, who has elected to retire with 30 years of service.

Cohade, 42, started with Kodak as a financial analyst in 1985 and rapidly moved through the ranks with stops in Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Singapore and Switzerland. He was named general manager and corporate vice president of worldwide consumer films in 1996 and assumed leadership of the Asia-Pacific region for consumer imaging in 1999. In 2001, Cohade was named chairman of the Europe, Africa, Middle East and Russia region for consumer imaging. Groupe Danone chose Cohade to run its global water and beverage division in early 2003, based in Paris, France.

"Pierre brings a wide range of business talent and experience to Goodyear in a region that demands an aggressive strategy," said Goodyear Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Keegan. "He's enjoyed success in both established and emerging markets. He's built sustainable growth in complex business environments and has a proven track record in leading strategic and operational initiatives.

"Obviously I know Pierre well from our previous experiences together and am confident that he will be the strong leader we need in this key role to succeed Hugh Pace," Keegan added.

Cohade received a degree in finance from the Ceram European School of Business in Sophia-Antipolis, France in 1984, and graduated at the top of his MBA class at Penn State University in 1985. Cohade is married with two children.

Pace spent the past six years as president of the Asia-Pacific region after extensive international experience that started with an assignment in Brazil in commercial tire sales. He worked in Peru, Venezuela, Akron, Argentina and Mexico prior to accepting the regional president's position for Asia-Pacific.

"Hugh has been very successful in his long international career for Goodyear," Keegan said. "He built a strong Asian business base with solid operational success and was the one who got us going in the China market," Keegan said. "We wish Hugh and his family nothing but the best."

Cohade will assume responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region immediately.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Goodyear manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 80 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 85,000 people worldwide.