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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The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has revealed the outcome of its 2026 Board of Directors election, with four industry figures selected to serve three-year terms. Kelsey Jarman, Director of Sales for off-the-road tyres at ESTI, and Jason Rook, President and CEO of ITDG, are joining the board for the first time. Craig Stevens, General Manager of Big Horn Tire, and Adam Moffatt, Executive Director of the Tire Dealers Association of Canada, who also serves the Ontario Tire Dealers Association, have both been re-elected as returning members.

The association expressed enthusiasm for the leadership, perspectives and experience these individuals will contribute as they help steer TIA and advance the tyre industry. The newly elected and re-elected board members are scheduled to be formally inducted on 2 November 2026 during TIA’s Annual Membership Meeting, which will take place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The association extended its congratulations to all four individuals.

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Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH (DUNLOP) has unveiled a comprehensive winter and all-season tyre portfolio for the 2026 season, targeting European drivers who face unpredictable cold-weather conditions. The range covers high-performance passenger car and SUV applications, blending dependable winter traction with year-round versatility. The lineup includes the DUNLOP WINTER, WINTER SPORT 5, SP WINTER SPORT 4D and SP WINTER SPORT 3D winter tyres, alongside the DUNLOP ALL SEASON 2 for those seeking a single year-round solution.

The DUNLOP WINTER addresses drivers prioritising balanced low-temperature performance. Its directional tread and multidirectional sipes evacuate water and slush efficiently, supporting grip and stability, while lightweight materials reduce rolling resistance and aid fuel efficiency. It earned an ‘Exemplary’ rating in last year's Auto Bild tyre test, also praised for strong value. The WINTER SPORT 5, fitted as original equipment on selected Mercedes-Benz models, uses wide, deep grooves for efficient water evacuation and predictable cold-weather handling.

For enthusiasts, the SP WINTER SPORT 4D offers direct steering response through a lightweight construction, interlocking sipes, V-shaped snow grooves and an adaptive winter compound that promotes even contact-patch pressure. It is trusted as original equipment by Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The SP WINTER SPORT 3D, original equipment on selected Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen models, combines three-dimensional interlocking sipes for snow traction and braking with a Shape Lock System that maintains tread stability at higher speeds.

Completing the portfolio, the DUNLOP ALL SEASON 2 delivers a balance of summer and winter tyre benefits across varied conditions. Its 3D interlocking sipes aid winter traction, while a reinforced carcass supports stability and handling on both wet and dry surfaces, providing year-round confidence for European motorists.

Marcus Schulz, Assistant Manager – Product Planning, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, "Winter no longer necessarily means facing months of snow and ice, with often milder temperatures adding to the unpredictability of the weather. This makes it even more important to have tyres that can cope with a wide range of weather conditions. With our winter portfolio, DUNLOP offers tyres designed to meet the increasingly diverse conditions and ensuring drivers can rely on consistent performance.

"In DUNLOP's first full year with Sumitomo Rubber Industries, we are entering a new chapter in Europe. By continuously strengthening and expanding our product portfolio, we are enhancing the brand's competitiveness and laying the ideal foundation for a successful and safer 2026 winter season.”

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Michelin has broadened its agricultural trailer tyre lineup with the launch of the MICHELIN WORKXBIB. Designed primarily for tipping trailers, slurry tankers, manure spreaders and similar farm equipment, the new addition complements the existing MICHELIN TRAILXBIB, which features the company’s patented Ultraflex technology for reduced soil compaction.

Engineered to handle the demands of trailer platforms, the WORKXBIB combines endurance, high load capacity and reliability for intensive road use. It supports loads of up to 6,500 kg at speeds of 65 kmph and is offered in a size range tailored to current vehicles, drawing on Michelin’s innovation to deliver dependable performance.

The tyre’s flat crown and reinforced, serrated shoulders provide a larger footprint, promoting stability even under heavy loads and at high speed. A steel-belted crown, robust carcass and bead area, and a high-performance rubber compound enhance puncture resistance. Serrated shoulders improve stability on sloping ground, while large tread blocks self-clean to reduce maintenance. This design delivers up to 80 percent longer life than the previous generation of Michelin trailer products.

For contractors and farm owners, the result is fewer tyre replacement and maintenance stops, greater equipment availability and better-controlled operating costs. The replacement market rollout begins with size 600/55 R26.5 in October 2026, followed by three additional sizes in the second quarter of 2027: 650/55 R26.5, 600/60 R30.5 and 560/60 R22.5.

Tom Saunders, Agricultural Beyond Road Customer Engineering Support Manager at Michelin, said, “In a sector marked by increasingly intensive road use and demanding field performance, we’ve developed the MICHELIN WORKXBIB for contractors and farmers. Our latest fitment has a wide range of applications from public works and civil engineering through to haulage and livestock farming.”

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Tegeta Green Planet participated in a Circular Economy Action Platform meeting hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Georgia on 6 October. The session examined packaging waste management and the need for technical regulation from a business standpoint, with participants exploring existing practices and the challenges tied to the issue.

Attendees stressed that an effective waste management system would serve environmental goals while giving businesses a clear and predictable operating environment. Shalva Akhvlediani, Director of Tegeta Green Planet, presented the company’s vision and hands-on experience. Discussion topics included the Extended Producer Responsibility system, the role of businesses in waste management and practical obstacles to advancing a circular economy in Georgia.

As an EPR organisation, Tegeta Green Planet helps producers and importers meet their environmental obligations and supports an effective waste chain spanning collection, proper treatment and conversion into a resource. Akhvlediani detailed the company’s work with used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries, noting that a sustainable system demands coordinated cooperation among businesses, government and other stakeholders alongside practical experience.

The meeting underscored the value of technical regulation, with clear requirements and strong enforcement seen as ways to develop waste management, reinforce responsible business practices and encourage more efficient resource use. Developing a circular economy remains a key focus for Tegeta Green Planet, which continues working with the business, public and educational sectors so that waste management moves beyond regulatory compliance toward reuse and recycling opportunities.

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