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.”

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Goodyear has introduced a new global campaign titled ‘Fast Is In Us’, dedicated to celebrating its renowned Eagle performance tyre family. The campaign debuted at the Kentucky Derby and follows last year’s STILL campaign, which underscored Goodyear’s iconic status. Fast Is In Us builds upon that foundation to elevate the Eagle legacy further.

Rather than focusing solely on traditional speed, the campaign highlights individuals deeply passionate about automobiles. It honours their appreciation for vehicle design, engineering and the tactile connection through the steering wheel. Fast Is In Us shifts attention from raw velocity to the emotional bond between driver and machine, celebrating those who feel performance rather than merely claim it.

The Eagle tyre family’s decades-long performance pedigree grounds the campaign, shaped in elite motorsport environments and high-performance automotive partnerships. After 45 years and millions of drivers, Eagle enters a new era believing fast is inherent to its design. This marks Goodyear’s first global campaign built around a performance tyre family, inviting drivers to embrace Eagle as a living philosophy rather than a one-off product.

The campaign will roll out globally across premium television, out-of-home, digital, social and cultural events. At the Kentucky Derby, the Goodyear Blimp carried the phrase Did someone say horsepower? Future integrations include the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other elite racing gatherings. Created with Publicis P1T Crew and led by BBH USA, Fast Is In Us aims to remind performance drivers why Eagle has always belonged with them.

Mark Stewart, Chief Executive Officer and President, Goodyear, said, "The performance car category is growing, and the drivers entering it want tyres worth bragging about. Eagle has more than four decades of credibility in performance and racing, and Fast Is In Us puts that legacy back to work – re‑establishing Eagle as the tyre knowledgeable drivers choose when performance truly matters. This campaign reflects how we're building Goodyear for the future: leading with premium products, authentic performance and brands that mean something."

J J Kraft, VP Global Creative, Goodyear, said, "Eagle isn't a product line – it's a piece of car culture. Fast Is In Us is a comprehensive platform built to put Eagle back at the centre of that enthusiasm. It expresses performance through feel and confidence behind the wheel, not just numbers on a page. It stands as one global campaign idea with the range to live across motorsport, retail and culture, and the ambition to lead the category, not chase it."

"For these drivers, Eagle is more than a tyre, it's a badge of devotion for drivers who respect the craft behind performance and demand confidence, responsiveness, and control every time they drive. Fast, in this world, isn't something you switch on. It's something you live," Kraft added.

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A comprehensive scientific review released under the umbrella of the Tire Industry Project (TIP) has concluded that despite significant advances in understanding tyre wear emissions, current data remains insufficient to quantify their direct impact on human health. The final paper in a three-part ‘State of Knowledge’ (SoK) series, supported by TIP as part of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, analysed over 850 peer-reviewed studies to assess global research on tyre and road wear particles. The authors found that inconsistencies in sampling approaches, detection techniques and analytical methodologies across studies prevent reliable comparison and robust risk assessment. As a result, while interest in the topic has grown, the evidence linking tyre emissions to specific health outcomes remains inconclusive.

According to the review, tyre wear particles constitute only a small fraction of total airborne particulate matter, typically less than five percent of PM2.5 and PM10 in urban environments. Toxicological data from both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that tyre and road wear particles are no more harmful than general ambient particulate matter, with effects that are similar to or less potent than those of other airborne particle types. Although chemicals used in tyre manufacturing have been detected in human body fluids, the authors stress that these substances are also widely used in other applications, making it impossible to clearly attribute exposure to tyres as the primary source.

The paper, independently authored by Kathrin Müller, Julie Panko, Kenny M Unice and Dr Stephan Wagner, identifies the lack of harmonised global methods for sampling, analysing and characterising tyre wear emissions as a major barrier to drawing firm conclusions. This call for greater methodological consistency aligns with the findings of the first two SoK papers published in 2025, which examined the characterisation, quantification and environmental impacts of tyre wear emissions. Without standardised approaches, meaningful comparison across studies and reliable exposure or risk assessment remain unattainable.

Looking forward, the authors recommend that future research prioritise the identification of potential exposure pathways and examine relevant health outcomes, including chronic effects, under realistic conditions. Such studies should cover urban and suburban populations across different global regions to ensure comprehensive and applicable findings. The SoK series, representing the most extensive review of global science on tyre wear emissions to date, underscores the need for coordinated international efforts to improve the identification, measurement, and attribution of these particles in both environmental and human health contexts.

Dr Wagner, one of the leading researchers of Paper 3, said, “Tyre wear emissions are a complex topic that we still only partly understand, especially in relation to human health. While research has advanced our understanding of TRWP, the current data simply isn’t robust enough to quantify any potential health risks specifically linked to tyre wear. Looking forward, cross-stakeholder collaboration is fundamental to making rapid progress. By aligning methods, sharing data and focusing on real-world studies, we can build a stronger, more consistent evidence base to inform future decisions.”

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Citira has announced the acquisition of A&P Gustavsson Däck i Småland, a well-established tyre shop in Tingsryd, Småland. This transaction adds a key service point in the region and significantly strengthens Citira’s presence across southern Sweden.

Founded in 1985, A&P Gustavsson Däck has built a lasting reputation over four decades through high-level service for both heavy vehicles and passenger cars. Anders Gustavsson, who joined the business in 1985, became Shop Manager in 1995 and took full ownership in 2008, shaping the shop into a trusted local institution. His deep community ties have made the business a valued presence beyond just tyre services. Following the transaction, Anders will become a co-owner of Citira.

Linus Engberg, an employee since 2013, will assume the role of Shop Manager after the deal closes, ensuring continuity in daily operations and service standards. The shop will remain at the same premises with the same team, now backed by Citira’s resources and network to support further growth.

David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, "We are very pleased to welcome Anders, Linus and the team to Citira. The tyre shop has an impressive history and a genuinely strong local presence. That kind of trust, built over many years, is exactly what we look for when growing our network. We look forward to supporting the continued development of the business in Tingsryd and the surrounding region.”

Gustavsson said, "Joining Citira is the right next step for the business. It has been a privilege to serve this community for so many years, and I am confident that with Linus leading the team and with Citira's backing, the tyre shop will continue to thrive and deliver the service our customers deserve.”

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Prinx Chengshan has introduced its latest ultra-high-performance tyre, the Austone Meijie, through a charity test-drive event held in Kunming on 26 and 27 April. Centred on the theme ‘Cherish Every Moment with Love’, the initiative brought together dealers and store representatives to blend cutting-edge tyre technology with social responsibility. The new tyre was highlighted throughout as the group embarked on a mountainous journey focused on rural education support.

The charity effort targeted left-behind children, addressing both educational and daily needs as part of Prinx Chengshan’s broader corporate social responsibility commitments. Volunteers travelled to Jibi Primary School in Zhongshu Town, Luxi County, where 80 percent of students are boarders and nearly half of all families come from poverty-registered or low-income households. The convoy delivered stationery kits, sports equipment and backpacks to fill resource gaps at the campus.

Beyond material aid, the event fostered personal connections and emotional warmth, with the Austone brand philosophy of cherishing every moment put into practice. The new tyre played a key role in safeguarding the journey across city streets, highways and winding mountain roads. Participants gained direct experience of the Austone Meijie’s handling, durability and comfort throughout the convoy’s travels.

Professional test-drive sessions at Kunming Yujia Auto & Motor Sports Park further demonstrated the new tyre’s capabilities. In dry braking tests, the Austone Meijie delivered confident control and immediate response. The tyre’s high-grip tread compound and wide longitudinal grooves tackled wet surfaces by ensuring stable lane changes even through standing water. The new tyre provided unwavering lateral support and precise steering throughout the journey.

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