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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Mitas, Official Agriculture Tyre Sponsor of the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) and Title Sponsor of the Mitas National Finals Pull-Off, will occupy the spotlight at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana, Ohio, on 19 September, when the 2026 Grand National titles are decided.

Serving as the closing Grand National fixture of the season, the 39th Mitas All-Star Pull-Off also wraps up the brand's first year as the association's official agricultural tyre partner. That arrangement forms part of a three-season commitment spanning 2026 to 2028, drawing the company nearer to a North American motorsport discipline where immense engine output, grip and staying power face relentless scrutiny with every pass.

Two tyres will illustrate the breadth of the company's agricultural know-how at the venue. The PowerPull 01 30.5L-32 exists purely for pulling competition, arriving as a smooth tyre devoid of any moulded tread so crews can carve bespoke patterns suited to the track and their own machine setup; its tailored compound and tough build supply the grip, endurance and repeatability the sport requires. The VF 750/60R46 CFO 189D HC1000, by contrast, serves high-capacity self-propelled sprayers and comparable field duties, using Very High Flexion engineering to bear heavy loads at lower pressures while a broad contact patch spreads weight and keeps traction. Its tread delivers grip, longevity and self-cleaning ability for dependable service in punishing conditions.

When the 2026 NTPA season reaches its finale in Urbana, the sport's leading pullers and their followers will gather for a fitting celebration. Mitas will be present throughout, tying together the track and the field by demonstrating how the traction, durability and reliability demanded in competition echo the very traits underpinning its agricultural tyre lineup.

Andrea Masella, Marketing Director, Yokohama TWS, said, "Tractor pulling puts enormous demands on every part of the machine, including the tyres, making it a great environment to demonstrate what traction, durability and reliability mean when performance is pushed to the limit. We are proud to support NTPA as its Official Agriculture Tyre Sponsor and to bring our expertise to the Mitas All-Star Pull-Off. This partnership allows us to connect with the pulling community while highlighting the performance focus behind our agricultural tire portfolio. Pull like a Bull — on the track and in the field."

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Michelin has introduced an automated regrooving system called NAZCA, aiming to modernise a retreading practice that has served truck, bus and coach tyre maintenance for more than a century. The manual method demands specialised expertise and now confronts ergonomic strain and a shortage of skilled workers. Developed by Michelin engineers, NAZCA automates the process while following manufacturers’ recommendations, targeting consistent quality and repeatability. The system employs a high-density laser scanner and advanced algorithms to exploit every millimetre of usable rubber.

Because each tyre possesses a unique geometry, NAZCA adjusts cut depth in real time across the tyre’s full width and circumference. After more than a year of real-world testing, the machine can raise the number of regrooving jobs a workshop completes. Michelin estimates a capacity increase of 30 percent to 50 percent, depending on operating conditions. Each regrooving operation requires under three minutes of technician hands-on time, allowing staff to handle alignment, repairs and tyre mounting or removal.

This supports greater workshop profitability and flexibility. NAZCA accommodates a wide range of tyre brands and sizes, provided the casing is robust enough for the lifespan-extending procedure. About 20 NAZCA machines are in pilot testing across Europe. Michelin plans further rollouts in various countries in 2027, subject to applicable regulations, with a gradual commercial launch tailored to each market. The system will appear at the Michelin stand during IAA Transportation in Hannover from 14 to 20 September 2026.

NAZCA forms part of Michelin’s multi-life model, pairing regrooving and retreading so a tyre can last up to 2.5 times longer than a single-life product. Regrooving enables use to the legal wear limit, adding up to 25 percent more mileage and up to 5 percent fuel savings. Retreading completes the approach: initial REMIX retreading can double mileage for roughly 60 percent of a new tyre’s cost, while REMIX 2 premium retreading, available for 90 percent of Michelin truck lines, delivers 95 percent of new-tyre performance for about 60 percent of the cost, cutting cost per kilometre by 33 percent. Each retreading also saves about 50 kg of raw materials per tyre.

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Dr Suttipong Angthong, Secretary-General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), delivered a keynote address at the Sustainability in Tires 2026 conference in Bangkok on 3–4 September 2026, presenting the organisation's positions on eco-friendly supply chains, market dynamics and ethical production methods vital to the global tyre sector.

His participation highlighted ANRPC's leadership as the principal representative of rubber-producing nations, working to guarantee that smallholder farmers and member countries help shape global sustainability criteria while building strategic alliances with tyre makers and processing firms.

Through such international engagement, ANRPC promotes environmentally responsible cultivation, equitable commerce and traceable supply networks, connecting the natural rubber industry to worldwide ESG frameworks and safeguarding a durable, sustainable future for every stakeholder.

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Pirelli’s Hard tyre played a decisive role as Kimi Antonelli won the inaugural Formula 1 race at the Madring, mastering a one-stop strategy to take victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, extending his World Championship lead in the process.

All three podium finishers made their sole pit stop during a Virtual Safety Car period between laps 14 and 15. Antonelli and Norris swapped Pirelli Mediums for Hards, while Verstappen replaced his starting Softs with Hards. The one-stop approach proved dominant across the grid, with only George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Oliver Bearman, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas stopping twice.

Track temperatures peaked at 52°C and air temperature reached 32°C, mirroring conditions from earlier in the weekend. Russell, Antonelli’s closest title rival and team-mate, came home fifth. Antonelli now leads the standings on 292 points, with Russell second on 211. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix follows on Saturday 26 September.

In supporting action, Dino Beganovic won Sunday’s Formula 2 Feature Race ahead of Alex Dunne and Ritomo Miyata, all three running Softs before Hards and pitting on lap 18. Ugo Ugochukwu secured the Formula 3 World Championship by finishing second in Madrid, as Freddie Slater’s eighth place allowed the title swing. Tuukka Taponen won the finale, with Pedro Clerot third.

Dario Marrafuschi, Pirelli Motorsport Director, said, “The teams approached today's race differently from what had been simulated on track on Friday. Thanks also to the opportunity provided by the Virtual Safety Car, they favoured a more measured management of pace and degradation, which allowed them to significantly extend stint lengths and made the one-stop strategy the preferred choice for the majority of the field. The star of the Grand Prix was the Hard tyre, a compound that had been little explored during free practice and which today demonstrated a very high level of consistency, proving to be the most robust of the three compounds from both a thermal and mechanical perspective. With the C2, we saw several stints exceeding 45 laps, reaching very high levels of wear without any significant performance drop-off. Both the Medium and the Soft also proved to be effective options despite the track temperatures. The C4, in particular, completed competitive stints comparable to those of the Medium in terms of durability.

“As expected, graining appeared mainly on the front-left tyre, on the inner area of the tread, but with limited intensity. The work carried out by the teams on car setup and tyre management helped to minimise its effects. In a race characterised by few overtaking opportunities, the drivers were able to focus on tyre management, contributing to a very straightforward contest from a strategic perspective. Congratulations to Ugo Ugochukwu for securing the Formula 3 championship title today at the end of a highly competitive season. The series continues to represent an important proving ground for young talents from all over the world. The fact that the title was decided only at the final round highlights the exceptionally high level of competitiveness within the championship, which this year delivered spectacular racing and outstanding sporting value.”

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