Jyotsna came on board as the CFO and Head of IT of Bridgestone India, around two-and-a-half years ago - in April 2018. Since then, she has ensured attentive capacities are in place, thus focusing on maintaining cost control and delegating financial management. Afterall, the tyre industry is highly competitive and market-driven. And yes, digital evolution and safety of her colleagues and business partners have become one of her top priorities during the pandemic.
Raised in a modest and orthodox business family of six daughters, principles such as hard work, humility, and honesty were a natural part of growing up for her. Married at the age of twenty-one, Jyotsna wanted to be more than just a housewife. Thus, she pursued her grinding CA qualification while being a mother of a baby boy.
“I pursued further education and got a professional qualification, CA, in 1994. Not an easy call in any way. The profession itself was demanding and then to be able to garner the support of the larger family was a big task considering the social norms at the time. However, with the great support from my in-laws, my husband Rajesh, and my conviction, I managed to pursue this new path,” Jyotsna recalls.
When asked about what she would attribute to the leadership qualities she has achieved, she reflects on her family background and the formative years of her life. Marriage was the ultimate end-goal for all girls back then, she says. But, her father, who was a civil engineer, and ran a unit into precision tools manufacturing, understood the value of education. He ensured all his daughters received quality higher education. This paid off as all of Jyotsna’s sisters are highly qualified across different streams.
Jyotsna also mentions the underlying importance of financial independence that was ever-present while growing up. These values, coupled with formal education and academics, added to her versatile calibre. However, she says studies were never her cup of tea. Her interests were games, food, and fun. Having done her graduation at BMCC, life was relatively stress-free then.
However, getting married at the early age was a turning point in her life when she braved the conventional social norms at the time and pursued her CA studies. She adds that the journey from 1989-1994 was full of challenges, excitement, courage, and family support. Significant challenges to pursue her CA were to convince the in-laws to allow her to go and live in a hostel and study and to be able to meet social obligations as a newly-wed woman, and not being able to give time to her son.
“To be able to give my 100% to the studies amidst all of this was quite difficult. However, I always kept my eye on the big picture.”
Jyotsna started her professional career at Kinetic Honda, a manufacturing organisation which, she says, was not perceived to be ideal for women and had limitations to growth. “But that made me work even harder. However, it was a role of my choice, and I worked with them for nine years, and those were my formative career years. A combination of experience at Firodiya, a well-respected business house and a Japanese business brand is great learning for any finance professional. I took additional responsibilities on multiple functions and projects to rise the ladder at a good pace as by now; I had found my Ikigai- a reason to live.”
“Amidst all this, the family challenges continued as my husband Rajesh had moved to Singapore, and I single-handedly attended to our son”.
At the workplace, she always ensures that she works hard and does everything from grassroots and is never bothered about her designation and qualification as, for her, that is a means and not an end. “Over the years, I worked on building and strengthening relationships and never really kept any limitations to what I wanted to achieve.”
COVID has turned the auto industry upside down. New normal is becoming a part of life and businesses as well. Whereas the challenges of COVID have been unprecedented, it also brought new ways of doing businesses. Now employee safety is becoming a top priority, while digital evolution is bringing a new era ahead of the industry.
At Bridgestone, Jyotsna says, the safety of their people and safeguarding their operations have been the topmost priority. Ever since COVID first hit the country, the company took proactive measures to not only keep the people safe but, also streamline operations in the wake of new normal. Furthermore, at the back of accelerated digitisation, Bridgestone India has been able to bring the right solutions for its consumers as well as ensure the same levels of productivity within the organisation.
When asked about how she feels about working in such a dynamic industry, Jyotsna says, “The automobile industry is where my professional career is slated. Kinetic Honda, SKF Bearings, NRB Bearings, Sandvik Asia and now Bridgestone are my performing turfs. One side of the industry, i.e., channel partners, are the same - similar channels set up requirements, risks, opportunities, and expectations of the partners. What differs is the strength of the product and strength of the competitor. Bridgestone, with its world-class Japanese technology in tyre manufacturing, is one of the leading and most trusted brands with all the strengths on the product, manufacturing, and innovation.”
“The market in India is huge, and the progressive growth and demographics of the country are definitely positive. At Bridgestone India, we are financially secure with a good product range, best manufacturing facilities, substantial market share, reliable channel partners and an ambitious and committed workforce. The biggest risk is getting complacent and losing focus on cost. The tyre industry is competitive, and market driven. Also, the capacities are in place, thus keeping focus and maintaining cost control is the financial management challenge which is exciting.”
Like everyone, COVID has influenced Jyotsna’s personal and professional life. According to her, COVID was a blessing in disguise to be able to spend all this time at home and spending time to call and check on all near and dear ones, reconnecting, rejuvenating were positives in this situation.
However, work from home bears multiple challenges and ,for her the divide between official work and domestic duties was practically invisible. As the Head of IT and CFO, Jyotsna had a great responsibility to ensure the digital solutions were up and running and without causing the loss of productivity at the same time managing concerns around security and support. “As a CFO, a time to complete FY 20 financials and audits, and the Mid-term – 3 years business plan process which were very challenging.”
“But I would say the times have tested my abilities to stay strong under all situations. I would like to say this to my fellow leaders that encourage your teams throughout and keep the work exciting as always. This will ensure a positive sentiment in these trying times.”
As much as work is refreshing with so much happening, Jyotsna does take personal time to recharge. She loves to drive and have been doing rallies like Raid the Himalaya, Desert Storm, Spice Challenge. She has also done international driving vacations.
“Amidst the lockdown, I recently drove to Bangalore to be with my son Prateek. The memory of absolutely traffic-free roads and my car racing at 230-250 with confidence to touch Bangalore from Pune non-stop in 9 hours was wonderful. We drove through Kabini and spent a holiday together, making memories.”
“I also like to read, so I took this opportunity to download the most read books Ikigai, Atomic Habits, Just do It – the Nike story and many more.”
“Netflix was another relaxing way to spend some time, and the most exciting watch for me was Drills apart from many others. I love to socialise and continued e-socialising as well.”
BKT Tires’ Waluj Facility Shines With Twin Gold Wins At TQM Convention 2026
- By TT News
- July 30, 2026
BKT Tires’ Waluj Plant has secured two Gold Awards for Manufacturing Innovation at the Quality Circle Forum of India’s TQM Convention 2026, hosted at the Quality Circle Excellence Centre in Pune. The recognition came in the Case Study presentation segment, where the plant’s entries stood out among a competitive field.
The awards were selected from a pool of 132 case studies, presented by 481 participants representing 38 different organisations. This achievement highlights the Waluj facility’s technical proficiency and its sustained focus on problem-solving, process optimisation and employee-driven improvements. The twin honours reflect the teams’ persistent dedication and ingenuity, reinforcing the plant’s reputation for operational resilience and manufacturing excellence.
TyreSafe Welcomes Dunlop And Falken As Official Supporters In Road Safety Drive
- By TT News
- July 29, 2026
TyreSafe, UK’s leading independent tyre safety charity, has significantly expanded its industry backing with the formal addition of Dunlop and Falken to its roster of official supporters. The move arrives at a crucial juncture, as road safety advocates push for greater public awareness amid rising concerns over vehicle maintenance standards across the country.
Both brands bring considerable market weight to the charity, holding influential positions across premium, performance, SUV and light commercial vehicle categories throughout UK and Europe. Their entry into the TyreSafe fold does more than simply increase membership numbers; it injects fresh technical perspective and broadens the demographic of motorists who can be reached through co-branded safety messaging. This development coincides with the rollout of Britain’s first comprehensive road safety strategy in over a decade, a period in which industry-wide cooperation has become increasingly vital.
Practical benefits for everyday drivers are expected to emerge quickly, as the partnership enables larger-scale distribution of educational content on tyre care fundamentals such as proper inflation, tread evaluation and defect recognition. Beyond public awareness, the alliance creates a framework for joint research ventures and information exchange, potentially yielding richer data on accident causation and tyre performance under varied conditions. These insights are likely to inform future campaign designs and help address gaps in current road safety knowledge.
The collaboration reinforces a growing consensus within the automotive sector that preventable road incidents demand unified responses rather than isolated efforts. TyreSafe will coordinate closely with its new partners on targeted initiatives spanning driver education, industry engagement and policy advocacy. By combining the charity’s strategic oversight with the commercial reach and engineering expertise of Dunlop and Falken, the group aims to foster lasting behavioural shifts among motorists, ultimately contributing to a measurable decline in tyre-related casualties on UK roads.
Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome both DUNLOP and FALKEN to TyreSafe. Their decision to join TyreSafe demonstrates a clear commitment to road safety. This is significant not only for TyreSafe, but for road users. The more leading manufacturers we can bring together around a shared vision for safer roads, the greater our ability to influence behaviour, share expertise, generate evidence and deliver life-saving safety messages. The publication of the Government’s new national Road Safety Strategy has created a renewed focus on casualty reduction across UK. Achieving those ambitious goals will require genuine collaboration between industry, government, enforcement and road safety organisations, and we are excited to have DUNLOP and FALKEN joining us on that journey.”
Markus Bögner, President and Managing Director, Dunlop Tyre Europe and FALKEN Tyres Europe, said, “We are delighted to join TyreSafe and become part of an organisation that has played such an important role in improving tyre safety awareness across UK for more than two decades. At DUNLOP and FALKEN, safety, innovation and performance are at the heart of everything we do. As manufacturers, we recognise that delivering world-class products is only part of the equation; helping road users understand the importance of tyre maintenance and vehicle safety is equally important. TyreSafe has built a strong reputation for bringing together industry, enforcement, government and road safety partners to drive meaningful change, and we are proud to be joining that community. We believe that by working collaboratively and sharing expertise, we can help raise awareness of the vital role tyres play in keeping people safe on the roads. We look forward to supporting TyreSafe’s mission and contributing to initiatives that encourage safer journeys for road users across UK.”
Lassa Tyres Hosts Global Distributor Gathering To Outline Growth Strategy
- By TT News
- July 29, 2026
Lassa Tyres, the flagship international brand of Brisa, Türkiye's sector leader and tyre industry export champion, recently convened its international distributors for an exclusive event aimed at celebrating enduring partnerships and articulating its strategic growth trajectory. The gathering, which coincided with The Tire Cologne, brought together representatives from over 20 companies within the brand’s global network to reinforce synergy and mutual dedication.
Central to the brand’s vision is the ongoing enrichment of its product portfolio and technological transformation, designed to bolster competitiveness in key export markets. In response to shifting consumer demands abroad, Lassa Tyres is significantly expanding its winter and all-season offerings, complementing its established summer lineup.
The company has introduced four new winter tyres and one all-season tyre, marking a comprehensive overhaul of its winter range across all segments. These new products incorporate ‘EV ready’ and ‘NextGen’ technologies, aligning with the global industry shift towards larger rim diameters and the proliferation of electric vehicles. The updated winter portfolio is projected to satisfy approximately 85 percent of European market demand, with a particular emphasis on increasing availability in sizes 18 inches and above.
Brisa Chief Executive Officer Vecih Yılmaz underscored that sustainable global expansion relies on robust partnerships, affirming that the company continues to advance in international markets through locally responsive business models. This strategic approach reinforces Lassa Tyres’ commitment to meeting diverse regional needs while solidifying its presence in critical winter tyre segments worldwide.
Yılmaz said, "Driven by our commitment to continuously investing in and expanding our product portfolio in line with customer expectations, we are establishing a closer and more powerful connection with our customers through our expanding and enriched channel structure while enhancing our brand appeal among target audiences. Today, reuniting physically with our distributors at such a large-scale event is not only a celebration of our collaboration but also the most significant indicator that we are entering the new season stronger than ever with our completely renewed winter product portfolio. In line with our shared growth vision, we will continue to deepen our strong global presence together with our partners."
AZuR Partner Genan Refocuses Corporate Strategy With Complete European Alignment
- By TT News
- July 29, 2026
AZuR network partner Genan has undertaken a significant strategic shift by divesting its tyre recycling facility in Houston, Texas, to concentrate exclusively on expanding its European footprint. The decision reallocates management focus and capital toward bolstering existing operations and penetrating new markets across the continent, effectively making Europe the sole theatre for the company’s future growth.
This corporate recalibration follows closely on the heels of Genan’s recently announced acquisition of a recycling plant in Weiden, Bavaria. That investment not only deepens the firm’s manufacturing base in Germany but also strategically enhances its logistical access to consumer and industrial markets throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Collectively, these moves crystallise a long-term commitment to establishing a robust European supply chain for high-quality secondary raw materials derived from end-of-life tyres.
The development arrives amid surging continental demand for recycled materials, with shorter supply chains and the imperative for resilient resource security driving the need for efficient domestic recycling capacity. Genan’s advanced mechanical processing technologies are positioned to address this gap, producing rubber granules, powder, steel and textile fractions that feed multiple industrial applications. The company’s role within the AZuR competence network further amplifies its impact, fostering joint innovation across repair, retreading and mechanical recycling stages.
Industry observers view Genan’s move as a clear endorsement of Europe’s ascendant position in the circular economy, where technological investment directly bolsters value creation and industrial know-how. Through collaborative efforts with research bodies and sector stakeholders, AZuR and its partners aim to strengthen the entire lifecycle of tyre materials, reinforcing the principle that closed-loop systems thrive on integrated, cross-sector cooperation.
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT