Hopkins Named Vice President, Technology and Strategic Initiatives for Goodyear
AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 6, 2006 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that William M. Hopkins, formerly vice president global product marketing & technology planning, is named to the new position of vice president, technology and strategic initiatives.
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In his new role, Hopkins will be responsible for global strategic initiatives, tire engineering, materials, performance prediction and global vehicle systems. He will continue to report to Joseph M. Gingo, executive vice president, quality systems and chief technical officer.
"Bill has played a key role in bringing technology and marketing together to deliver outstanding new products and technologies to market that consumers desire," Gingo said. "Now, through his coordination and leadership of all these technology functions, he will provide more focus on longer term, strategic product initiatives. He will also ensure we have the skill sets within each of these functions to meet the challenges of the future."
Hopkins, 61, earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming. He joined Goodyear as an engineering trainee in 1967. He later became a tire designer and, in 1973, chief engineer for passenger tires. In 1978, he was named chief engineer for international auto tire development at Goodyear's Luxembourg Technical Center.
Four years later, he returned to Akron, where he led the company's radial race tire development program. In 1986, he became manager of light truck tire engineering. Hopkins was named marketing manager for light truck tires in 1990 and general manager in 1991. In 1993, he became general manager for multi-purpose vehicle and specialty tires.
In 1996, Hopkins was named director of tire technology for North America. In 1998, he was elected vice president, worldwide tire technology. He was elected to his most recent position in 1999.
Hopkins holds 26 patents for tire developments. He is a member of the executive committee for The Tire Society Inc., International Committee of Industrial Research Institute, executive committee and the Board of Trustees of Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron.
Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.
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