Bridgestone EMEA has unveiled a leadership transition, with Laurent Dartoux, Group President of Bridgestone EMEA and Vice President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation, set to retire.

Dartoux will remain in an advisory role until 31 March 2025 to ensure a seamless handover, the company said in a statement.

Effective 1 February 2025, Mete Ekin will assume the role of Group President of Bridgestone EMEA. Ekin, a nearly 30-year veteran of the tyre industry, joined Bridgestone’s Joint Global COO Office in 2023 after leading sales teams across the Middle East and Africa.

He currently serves as President of Core Tire Europe, a position he took up in 2024.

In his new role, Ekin will lead the Bridgestone EMEA Management Board and report directly to Scott Damon, CEO of Bridgestone West, which oversees operations in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Dartoux, who joined Bridgestone EMEA in 2014, has been credited with steering the region through the global pandemic and other significant challenges. During his tenure, the company advanced its sustainability goals, though specific details on progress were not disclosed.

"We are deeply grateful for Laurent's contributions and thoughtful leadership throughout his career at Bridgestone," said Scott Damon, CEO of Bridgestone West and Group President of Bridgestone Americas. "We extend our heartfelt thanks to Laurent for his dedication and leadership and wish him all the best in his retirement. We also look forward to Mete's leadership. His extensive experience and strategic vision make him the ideal leader to guide Bridgestone EMEA into its next chapter."

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Laurent for his leadership and for overcoming various important challenges in the EMEA region over the past 10 years,” said Shu Ishibashi, Global CEO of Bridgestone Corporation. “His contributions will serve as our cornerstone for growth as we enter the next chapter under Mete’s leadership.”

Goodyear has earned the prestigious ‘Master’ supplier rating by DAF for the fourth consecutive year.

Goodyear's excellence in crucial areas including product development, operational support and alignment with DAF's business objectives is highlighted by this recognition, which is a component of DAF's Supplier excellence Management (SPM) programme. Three performance categories – Achiever, Leader and Master – are used by the programme to assess vendors. The highest honour, the ‘Master’ rating, is given to suppliers that continuously exhibit exceptional performance and cultivate a close working relationship with DAF. By retaining the ‘Master’ rating for the fourth year, Goodyear underlines its position as a reliable industry partner committed to enhancing customer performance and efficiency.

Xavier Fraipont, Vice President Commercial PBU EMEA at Goodyear, said, “We are honoured to receive the ‘Master’ rating from DAF for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement reflects the dedication of our teams in delivering high-performing products and reliable support to DAF. It also underscores the strength of our long-standing partnership, built on a foundation of premium quality, innovations and collaboration.”

Apollo Tyres NL BV plans to close its Enschede manufacturing facility in the Netherlands by mid-2026, citing unsustainable production costs and declining demand for its speciality tyres.

The Dutch tyre manufacturer, a subsidiary of India-based Apollo Tyres Ltd, has formally submitted a Request for Advice to the Works Council regarding the intended closure, the company said in a statement Friday. The decision follows "thorough investigation and careful consideration" after cost-cutting initiatives failed to offset rising inflation.

"Submitting the Request for Advice to the Work's Council on the intended decision to discontinue production has been enormously difficult," said Benoit Rivallant, President of Apollo Tyres NL. "In the last few years, we have implemented several initiatives to reduce costs at Enschede. These initiatives resulted in some savings, but most were completely negated due to the ever-increasing inflation."

According to the statement, the Enschede plant, which produces pneumatic tyres for cars and agricultural vehicles, has struggled with "macro-economic disruptions, steep increases in energy and labour costs, and a decline in demand for Spacemaster and Agri tyres. " Pressure from low-cost competitors has further squeezed margins.

The company said it would continue normal operations while consulting with the Works Council and that the final decision remains subject to supervisory board approval. Management has committed to maintaining communication with employees, customers and suppliers throughout the process.

Apollo Tyres Ltd, headquartered in Gurugram, India, ranks among the leading tyre manufacturers. The company did not specify how many jobs would be affected by the closure.
    
 

The Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), a research organisation working as part of Rubber Board, has announced its proposal to appoint a ‘Research Associate (statistician)’ to work in the Botany Division on temporary basis. The selection will be based on a written test cum walk-in interview.

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in Agricultural Statistics or equivalent qualification to be eligible for the position. As per the criteria, the age of candidates applying for the position should not exceed 35 years as of 31 January 2025.  Interested candidates are advised to meet the Director of Research, Rubber Research Institute of India, Rubber Board, Kottayam–9 on 6 May 2025 at 9.30 am along with the original documents their age, educational qualifications, experience etc. Those interested can contact on 0481-2353311 or visit www.rubberboard.gov.in for further details.

Vaculug Ltd has officially launched its new mobile application, V-Torque, to support fleet managers and commercial vehicle technicians across the UK.

V-Torque is intended to improve the effectiveness and safety of vehicle maintenance by giving commercial vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes operating in the UK instant access to wheel nut torque requirements and re-torque settings. Thanks to the app's sophisticated capabilities, users can oversee and control re-torquing procedures with unparalleled precision, guaranteeing the highest level of wheel security compliance. V-Torque lowers maintenance costs and advances fleet operations' sustainability objectives by optimising these procedures. After successful field tests with a few chosen service providers, the app is now accessible on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Glenn Sherwood, Chief Growth Officer of Vaculug Ltd, said, “We are thrilled to introduce V-Torque, a product born from our unwavering commitment to sustainability and innovation. The app amplifies our dedication to driving positive change in the industry.”