Goodyear Announces Leadership Changes

AKRON, Ohio, May 11, 2005 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that Joseph Copeland, senior vice president of business development, strategy and restructuring, has been named Chief Executive Officer of South Pacific Tyres, the company's 50 percent-owned joint venture in Australia.

Copeland, 43, has held his present position since November 2004 and was president of the company's former Chemical business for two years before that.

"I'm glad that Joe has agreed to lead South Pacific Tyres through this important stage of its turnaround," said Goodyear Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Keegan. "His experience, leadership capabilities and track record of success make him ideally suited for this assignment."

Copeland will report to the South Pacific Tyres Board of Directors. In addition, he will report to Pierre Cohade, president of Goodyear's Asia/Pacific tire business, for the purpose of coordination between Goodyear and South Pacific Tyres operations.

Darren R. Wells, currently vice president and treasurer, has been named senior vice president, business development and treasurer. He will continue to report to Richard. J. Kramer, executive vice president and chief financial officer. In addition to continuing his role as treasurer, Wells will assume Copeland's business development responsibilities as well as additional oversight responsibilities for the investor relations and tax functions.

"Darren's expanded leadership role will provide significant synergies for our capital markets and business development activities," said Kramer.

Before leading Goodyear's Chemical business, Copeland served as the director of finance for the company's Engineered Products and Chemical businesses. Prior to those assignments, he held senior positions in both technical services and e-commerce for Chemical and North American Tire, respectively. Copeland joined Goodyear in August 2000.

Before joining Goodyear, Copeland served in management roles at Ford Motor Company and Intel Corporation. While at Ford, between 1995 and 1997, Copeland served on the team that introduced the successful Jaguar S-Type luxury vehicle line. He also helped structure Ford's entry into the India market through the creation of a joint venture. At Intel, from 1997 to 2000, Copeland was senior finance manager for its e-commerce and Internet marketing group, where he helped develop the strategy for the company's entry into the channel.

Prior to his corporate experience, Copeland practiced corporate law in Washington, D.C., from 1988 to 1993. He received a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1983 and his law degree in 1988, both from Baylor University. He received his master of business administration degree in finance in 1995 from the University of Chicago.

Wells, 39, joined Goodyear in 2002 from Visteon Corporation, where he was assistant treasurer for two years and led the development of a treasury operation, as the parts manufacturer was spun-off from Ford.

Before joining Visteon, Wells worked in Ford's Australian operations from 1998 to 2000. He served as controller of Ford Investment Enterprises and as finance director of Ford Credit Australia.

Previously, Wells was manager of international financing for Ford Motor Credit Company from 1996 to 1997 and supervisor, financial analysis from 1992 to 1996. He joined the company in 1989 as a financial analyst.

Wells has a bachelor of arts degree from DePauw University and a master of business administration degree in finance from Indiana University.

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. The company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 28 countries around the world. Goodyear employs approximately 80,000 people worldwide.