Goodyear Realigns Corporate Structure to Better Serve Global Tire Markets
22 July 1999
Goodyear Realigns Corporate Structure to Better Serve Global Tire Markets
AKRON, Ohio, July 21 -- Goodyear has realigned its corporate
structure to work with a new global product planning group that will change
dramatically the Akron-based company's tire marketing efforts worldwide.
"This is a major change in our concept-to-market and business processes
that will optimize our corporate marketing and technical resources and better
enable us to be a global company that responds to the needs of local markets,"
said Samir G. Gibara, Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer.
Formation of the new planning group was announced June 17 with other major
organizational changes that included the election of Joseph M. Gingo as senior
vice president of technology and global products planning. Reporting to Gingo
is William Hopkins, vice president of global product marketing and technology,
also a new position.
Gingo now is responsible for all of Goodyear's worldwide research,
development and engineering for tires and non-tire products. He also has
global responsibility for aircraft, off-the-road (OTR/earthmover) and race
tires.
All of Goodyear's customers, including original equipment vehicle
manufacturers, will benefit from these changes, Gibara said. "For example,
our OE customers develop their products around global platforms and source
their components worldwide," Gibara said.
"Even now, we are supplying these customers with products developed and
manufactured worldwide." Similarly, Gibara noted, consumers differ from
continent to continent and from country to country. "Consumer tastes and
buying power dictate how we go to market in each of those areas. These
changes we are announcing now will enhance our efforts across the board."
Reporting to Hopkins for product planning will be the tire marketing
leaders of each of Goodyear's five worldwide regions -- North American Tire,
Latin America, the European Union, Asia, and Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle
East.
Hopkins, working with regional technology directors who will also report
to him, will direct tire development activities worldwide.
"The dual reporting process and the sharing of Hopkins's tire technology
responsibilities with the regions further enhances our efforts to develop
products for both global and local markets," Gibara said. "He is the
technology and product planning link to our global businesses, focusing on
what they need.
"Gingo will marshal the research, product development and process
technology forces to meet those needs."
The new structure will also help the company integrate product planning,
development and marketing of the company's global Goodyear and Dunlop brands
and associated brands such as Kelly-Springfield, Debica and Fulda. Inclusion
of the Dunlop brand is the result of recently signed global alliance between
Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. Hopkins will manage the
integration of SRI technical capabilities with Goodyear's, and also be
responsible for Goodyear's global product standards and competitive
benchmarking.
Also reporting to Gingo are: Richard J. Steichen, vice president
corporate research; John Bauer, formerly vice president tire technology-Kelly
Springfield, now general director, Goodyear Technical Center, Akron (GTC*A);
Theo Famulok, general director, Goodyear Technical Center, Luxembourg (GTC*L);
and Jean Bergh, formerly director tire development GTC*L, now director R&D,
compounding science.
Business unit executives reporting to Gingo are Tom Walker, general
manager global aviation tires; Tom Ford, general manager, global OTR (off-the-
road/earthmover) tires; and Stu Grant, general manager global race tires.
Completing Gingo's global links to all businesses, technical and support
functions are several executives, including K. B. Kleckner, vice president
global engineering and manufacturing technology (also reporting to Lowell
Dunckel, senior vice president, global product supply); Tim Toppen, director,
engineered products R&D (also reporting to Dennis E. Dick, president,
Engineered and Chemical Products); and Joel Muse, director, chemical R&D and
general manager, tire materials (dual reporting to Tave Mallamaci, director,
product supply and general manager, chemical products); George Sacco,
director, human resources, technology and global products (also reporting to
Mike Burns, senior vice president human resources and total quality culture);
Don Mullen, formerly director of finance for chemical products, now director
of finance for technology and global products (also reporting to Robert W.
Tieken, executive vice president and chief financial officer); and Dave Russ,
communications manager for technology and global products (also reporting to
Chris Aked, director, global communications).
Hopkins' new organization, including individuals and reporting
relationships, is being announced separately.