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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FALKEN has released a new film titled ‘The Perfect Lap’, offering a gripping behind-the-scenes look at the team's recent campaign in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The film arrives following the team's 27th participation in the legendary endurance event, which took place this past May. It meticulously documents the intense operational rhythm within the pit lane and the unforgiving nature of the Nordschleife circuit, set against one of the world's largest motorsport gatherings, attracting over 450,000 spectators.

The documentary underscores the challenge of the 24-hour race, where contenders must execute between 156 and 162 nearly perfect laps to secure victory. Created with automotive film specialists FORMAT67, the production team spent six days capturing footage on the treacherous track. The use of a U-Crane camera rig enabled dynamic tracking shots following the FALKEN Porsche directly on the tarmac, delivering authentic and high-quality visuals.

Emphasising traditional filmmaking, the entire project was executed without artificial intelligence, from location shoots through post-production. This commitment to conventional methods was a deliberate choice to enhance the film's genuine credibility and emotional resonance. The film portrays a team defined by relentless determination, returning annually to pursue ultimate triumph in this iconic race.

Debuting in 1999, the FALKEN Motorsport Team has evolved into a front-running force at the Green Hell. Its greatest achievement remains a podium finish with third place in 2015, and the recognisable Porsche 911 GT3 R continues to be a fan favourite. With a history of ‘Top 10’ finishes and high-profile drivers, the team carries immense ambition, using compelling track footage to tell stories fuelled by emotion and the harsh realities of endurance racing.

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, which also includes the tyre brand FALKEN, said, “It was particularly important to us to give the film a classic, premium look while maintaining a timeless visual style. The film captures the unique atmosphere and intensity of the Nürburgring 24 Hours while also telling the story of a broader, recurring challenge in motorsport: the pursuit of the perfect lap.”

Evropi Dionysiadou, Brand Communications Specialist, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, and responsible for the production, said, “The concept behind the film is to symbolise precision, passion, teamwork and the relentless drive to extract the maximum performance time and time again – lap after lap, day and night. In this respect, endurance racing and our complex film productions have a great deal in common.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) is set to showcase retreaded commercial vehicle tyres as a dual-purpose solution for cost and emission reductions at IAA Transportation 2026. The event, running from 15 to 20 September with a press day on 14 September, aligns with the fair’s central theme of climate-neutral logistics, under the motto ‘WE DELIVER’.

These retreaded tyres deliver equivalent quality, safety, mileage and axle performance when compared to brand-new models while offering a superior ecological profile and a more favourable cost-per-kilometre ratio. Their economic and environmental benefits will be highlighted at Hall 12, Stand A55, drawing attention to their role in sustainable freight operations.

Citing a Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT study commissioned by AZuR, the retreading process cuts CO2 emissions by over 60 percent relative to new tyre production, saving roughly 135 kilogrammes per truck tyre. This is achieved alongside a two-thirds reduction in raw material usage and a 50 percent decrease in energy consumption, underscoring the process’s resource efficiency.

Manufactured to original design specifications and subjected to rigorous safety checks, retreaded tyres comply with the strict ECE R109 standard. Their capacity for multiple retreading cycles keeps valuable materials in use longer, significantly lowering per-kilometre tyre costs. For fleet operators and forwarders, the AZuR exhibit offers a compelling case for both environmental and financial returns.

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Prinx Chengshan participated in the 2026 Thailand-China Cooperation Expo at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok. The event, under the theme ‘Investing in the Future, Growing Together’, was convened to implement key bilateral agreements and leverage emerging trade opportunities. Prinx Chengshan actively sought to integrate into the bilateral structure, exploring industrial alignment and market expansion to foster synchronised growth between the two nations.

Xu Jiangang, General Manager of Prinx Chengshan (Thailand) Co., Ltd., engaged with Jiang Wei, Minister-Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand; Lin Chuqin, Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Liu Quanlei, Chairman of the Thai Chinese Enterprises General Chamber of Commerce and Sumet Thangprasert, Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. Discussions centred on localisation strategy, intelligent manufacturing, global vision and sustainable practices.

Government and business representatives commended Prinx Chengshan's progress since its 2019 Thai establishment. They praised the Thailand Smart Factory's intelligent production and green initiatives. The company's role in cultural exchanges and local economic development was also recognized, establishing a foundation for future collaboration.

As the first overseas manufacturing hub, the Thailand Plant boosts bilateral trade and industrial cooperation. The facility uses advanced calenders and five-compound technology to automate handling and logistics. It operates Southeast Asia's largest rooftop solar project, while social programmes cover education, disaster relief and employment, building cultural bridges between both countries.

The expo featured Prinx Chengshan's Prinx AQUILA PRO tyres, known for energy efficiency, comfort and low noise. These have been integrated into models like the MG5 PRO Thailand Edition, MG S5 EV Thailand Edition and Changan NEVO Q05. The company has strengthened its original equipment manufacturer position, forging alliances with MG and NEVO for localised mobility solutions.

Prinx Chengshan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with upstream partners to deepen resource complementarity with Thai rubber industries. The company will enhance its product portfolio, reinforce localisation and intensify supply chain synergies. Through the Thailand-China platform, Prinx Chengshan aims to contribute to mutual prosperity and chart new growth for Chinese tyre enterprises globally.

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Bridgestone’s newly launched Total Cost of Ownership platform emerged as a central attraction at this year’s Road Transport Expo, where fleet operators gathered to examine how customised data analytics can refine logistical expenditures. The tool, which made its premiere at the Stoneleigh event, drew thousands of attendees eager to explore the practical applications of operational metrics in minimising fleet-related outlays. Organisers recorded a total turnout of 13,325 visitors, a significant portion of whom engaged directly with Bridgestone’s commercial team to assess the platform’s capabilities.

The TCO Calculator allows transport companies to input their specific performance data, generating individualised cost comparisons that move beyond generic industry benchmarks. This tailored approach enables managers to pinpoint potential savings and make commercially sound choices based on their unique operational profiles. Concurrently, the booth featured ongoing presentations of Bridgestone’s broader portfolio, including premium truck tyres, Bandag retreading systems, Fleetcare services and Webfleet’s digital tools, all of which sustained a steady flow of professional inquiries throughout the event.

Product highlights included the ECOPIA with ENLITEN technology, promoted for its fuel-saving attributes, and the Duravis line, engineered for extended mileage and reduced early tyre removal. Bandag’s retread offerings also drew considerable attention, underscoring the industry’s shifting focus towards sustainable practices that prolong casing life and diminish waste. These presentations reinforced the message that performance need not be sacrificed for ecological or economic benefits.

The exhibition underscored Bridgestone’s broader strategy of lowering total ownership costs through an integrated mix of tyre manufacturing, retreading, telematics and expert consultation. Additional Webfleet innovations, such as AI-powered Fleet Advisor, connected cameras and PRO Driver Terminals, highlighted the role of interconnected technology in boosting safety and regulatory compliance. The positive reception of the TCO platform confirmed that data-centric decision-making is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern transport management.

David Almazan, Head of Region and Commercial Business Unit Director, said, “RTX proved to be a fantastic opportunity to meet with customers and have meaningful conversations about the challenges they're facing. There was a real appetite to explore new ways of reducing operating costs, and the response to Bridgestone’s new Total Cost of Ownership platform. The number of visitors wanting to understand how the tool works and how it can be applied to their own operations showed us that fleets are increasingly looking beyond individual products and taking a broader view of total operating costs. That's exactly what the TCO tool has been designed to support.

“RTX continues to be one of the UK's most important events for the commercial vehicle sector, and this year's show demonstrated just how engaged the industry is in finding smarter, more sustainable ways to operate. The quality of conversations we had throughout the three days was exceptional. It wasn't simply about introducing new products; it was about working alongside fleets to understand their businesses and identify practical solutions that deliver long-term value. That's exactly where Bridgestone can make a real difference.”

Alex Crane-Robinson, Webfleet Regional Director, UK and Ireland, said, “The conversations we had at RTX highlighted the growing importance of our technology in helping operators manage increasingly complex and demanding operations. By giving fleets clearer visibility of their vehicles, drivers and day-to-day performance, data insights can help them identify opportunities to improve efficiency, support compliance and control costs. RTX offered a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how Webfleet can help operators use these insights to make faster, better-informed decisions.”

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