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.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bridgestone has celebrated a landmark achievement in the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), the world’s leading endurance motorcycle racing series. The BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM captured the title riding Bridgestone’s BATTLAX premium tyres, becoming the first European manufacturer ever to secure the championship. It also marked the seventh overall and sixth straight year that a Bridgestone-equipped team has claimed the EWC crown.

The Japanese tyre maker’s presence in the series dates back to 2017, when it began supporting full-season entrants with BATTLAX tyre engineered for grip, durability and predictable handling. In 2026, Bridgestone supplied 7 of the 17 full-season EWC class entrants. Its teams delivered a historic sweep, locking out the top five championship positions and, for the first time, claiming every podium place at each round.

The season tested tyres across extremes, from the cold opening 24 Hours Motos at Le Mans and variable weather at the 8 Hours of Spa Motos to rain and unseasonable cool at Suzuka and high heat and speed at the Bol d’Or finale. BATTLAX maintained consistent performance throughout, extending Bridgestone’s winning run to sixteen consecutive EWC races across four seasons.

Werner Daemen, Manager – BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM, said, "We are extremely proud to have achieved the world championship! Two years ago, we had the opportunity to work with Bridgestone, and to be honest, this was one of the keys to our victory. We are truly proud to work with such a professional company, and together with BMW, our team, and Bridgestone, we achieved this championship. We will definitely be back, and next year in Japan at Suzuka, we hope not to go for third place, but for first, and to compete again for the world championship. I want to thank everyone at Bridgestone – engineers, marketing, operations and all the people we have worked with. I hope to see you again next year. Thank you!"

Hiroshi Imai, Executive Officer, CPO (Chief Product Officer), Bridgestone Corporation, said, "First of all, I would like to send my congratulations to everyone at the BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM on winning the series championship! Also, I extend my sincere gratitude to all the fans who supported the races, every team that competed throughout the EWC season, event staff and everyone involved in organising the series, including FIM and the promoter EMP. With dramatically different conditions at each race, the BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM demonstrated outstanding adaptability and unity, delivering truly champion-worthy performances and inspiring fans around the world. We are also proud that, in the extreme challenge of EWC, we were able to work as one Bridgestone team to support these teams by providing BATTLAX tyres to maximise rider and machine performance. We will continue to refine our technologies at the racetrack and strive to develop and supply even higher-quality, higher-performance tyres so that, as a member of our partner teams, we can contribute to victory from the ground up."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) threw its support behind Japan Festival Houston 2026, joining the weekend-long cultural showcase as both a sponsor and an active participant. The event served as a bridge between the company's Japanese origins and the Houston community it calls home.

Organised by the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH), the two-day celebration gave visitors a window into Japanese culture. Attendees explored traditional and contemporary art, enjoyed live performances and authentic food, took part in family-oriented activities and browsed vendors selling Japanese merchandise and handcrafted items. The festival returns each year to honour Japanese culture in Houston while deepening ties between Japan and the United States.

KAI contributed as an Entertainment Underwriter sponsor, helping fund programming that made a weekend devoted to cultural connection, learning and community involvement possible. The occasion carried extra weight given that Kuraray reaches its 100th anniversary in 2026. Launched in Kurashiki, Japan, in 1926, the company evolved into a worldwide specialty chemical enterprise without losing its deep Japanese roots. For KAI's Houston-based employees, the festival became a way to honour that background and encourage cultural understanding close to home.

Over the course of the weekend, 21 KAI employees donated their time across various shifts, pitching in from Saturday morning until Sunday evening. Such involvement mirrors Kuraray America's wider dedication to supporting the communities where its workers reside and labour, and the company has backed the festival as a sponsor for several years running. KAI thanked every employee who volunteered, along with JASH for continuing to unite Houston through culture, education and meaningful interpersonal exchange, and offered particular gratitude to Mieko Davidson, Reiko Fuwa and Tomo Tani for their efforts.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

BKT has opened a 10,000 sq ft distribution facility in Sankagiri, Tamil Nadu, as the Indian tyre maker seeks to strengthen its position in the commercial vehicle radial segment in a key freight corridor.

The site, operated by authorised distributor Sri Jayanthi Roadways, is intended to improve product availability across eight markets — Salem, Sankagiri, Namakkal, Erode, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Karur — while enabling closer engagement with fleet operators and dealers.

Tamil Nadu is one of India’s largest industrial and logistics centres, with extensive road infrastructure and high freight movement. The company said these factors make the state a strategic market for commercial vehicle tyres.

Sankagiri, a major trucking hub linking Salem, Coimbatore and Kerala, has been selected to support distribution across southern India. The facility is expected to serve as a point of contact for fleet operators and channel partners, strengthening the group’s regional presence.

The opening was accompanied by a partner event attended by dealers, fleet operators and regional transport representatives. A flag-off ceremony for seven commercial vehicles fitted with BKT tyres was also held.

Representatives present included Satish Sharma, Senior President and Director for Business Development and Strategy at BKT, and Amitkumar Agarwal, National Sales Head for Commercial Vehicle Radial Tyres at BKT. Local industry figures, including N R S (a) N Kandhasamy of the Sankagiri Lorry Owners Association and P Shanmugam of the Sankagiri Taluk Bus Owners Association, also attended.

Agarwal said: “Tamil Nadu is one of BKT Tyres priority growth markets for the commercial vehicle tyre segment, given its strong transport ecosystem, developed infrastructure and mature fleet operator base. As we continue to expand our on-highway business in India, strengthening our presence in key freight and logistics hubs is critical to building closer relationships with customers and improving access to our products.

“Sankagiri's strategic location and deep-rooted transport community make it an important market for our growth ambitions in the region. Through our partnership with Sri Jayanthi Roadways, which brings over four decades of industry experience, we are creating a stronger platform to serve fleet operators, transporters and channel partners. This facility is an important step in our commitment to building a robust distribution network and expanding BKT Tyres commercial vehicle tyre footprint across South India.”

The move comes as the company expands its commercial vehicle radial portfolio in India, targeting demand from the country’s transport sector.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Dunlop will continue as the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIM Endurance World Cup Superstock and FIM Production World Trophy classes through the end of the 2029 season. The three-year extension with Endurance Moto Promoter, promoter of the FIM Endurance World Championship, preserves a role Dunlop has filled in Superstock since 2022 and in Production since that category's 2025 debut.

The agreement also maintains Dunlop's position as an Official Partner of the FIM EWC, a relationship that began in 2016. Teams across both classes will keep using the Dunlop KR slick range, receiving consistent performance, reliability and technical support whatever their size. Since 2022, the manufacturer has aided the steady progress of both grids in performance and competitive depth.

In the Formula EWC, where tyre choice stays open to all manufacturers, Dunlop will keep collaborating closely with several leading teams. It remains the most successful tyre brand in Championship history. The 2027 season opens with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, France, from 8 to 11 April 2027.

Wim Van Achter, Motorcycle Motorsport Manager EMEA, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “We are honoured to continue our partnership with the FIM Endurance World Championship and EMP as the exclusive tyre supplier for the Superstock and Production classes. EWC is a valuable arena for the active development of Dunlop’s KR racing tyres, which are available on the market for racers and track day riders. This partnership represents a stamp of approval for our tyres and a further incentive to continue developing the next generation of the Dunlop KR racing range in one of the most competitive racing environments.”

Claude Michy, President, Endurance Moto Promoter, said, “We are delighted to continue the longstanding partnership between the FIM EWC World Championship and Dunlop as the sole tyre manufacturer for the Superstock and Production classes. Endurance racing is a discipline that demands performance but also great consistency and complete trust between the teams and their technical partners. Dunlop has unique expertise and experience in this field and has always demonstrated its ability to meet the particularly high standards of the FIM EWC World Championship. This renewal reflects the quality of our collaboration and our shared commitment to keep promoting the championship. Above all, the main goal is to continue supporting the Superstock and Production teams as well as possible, thanks to a new allocation system.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!