After more than 28 years of service, Bridgestone leader and industry veteran, Christine Karbowiak will retire by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, She will remain in her current roles as Executive Vice President, Executive Officer, G-Chief Sustainability Officer and member of the Global Executive Committee of Bridgestone Corporation, and Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and member of the Executive Committee of Bridgestone Americas, until the end of 2020.

Joining the company as Senior Counsel for Bridgestone Retail Operations in 1992, Chris has advanced into multiple leadership positions of increased responsibility and visibility. She was named Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President for Bridgestone Americas in 2010, and Chief Risk Officer the following year, with oversight of the Communications; Government Affairs; Environment, Health and Safety; Security, and Sustainability departments for Bridgestone Americas. First elected a Vice President and Officer of Bridgestone Corporation in 2011, she was named to that company’s Global Executive Committee in 2014 and most recently was elected Executive Vice President and Executive Officer in 2019. She also serves on Boards of Directors of Bridgestone Americas (as Vice Chair) and Bridgestone China Asia Pacific.

“Chris leaves an indelible mark on our company, past, present and future,” said Paolo Ferrari, executive vice president and executive officer, Bridgestone Corporation, and member of the board, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas. “To Bridgestone Americas, she is an icon, and her reputation as a fearless and forward-looking leader will be her legacy. I speak for all Bridgestone employees when I say that she will truly be missed.”

Chris has played key roles in many facets of the Bridgestone business, including leading site selection and development efforts for Bridgestone Tower in downtown Nashville. She helped secure notable sport partnerships on behalf global Bridgestone, including the World Golf Championship’s Bridgestone Invitational, Bridgestone Senior Players Championship, and Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic partnerships.

 A longtime advocate for evolving Bridgestone’s sustainability position, Chris led the development, launch and implementation of Bridgestone’s Global Sustainable Procurement Policy, and in 2019, became the company’s first Global Chief Sustainability Officer. She currently represents Bridgestone on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Tire Industry Project, roles that she will continue through 2021.

LANXESS, a specialty chemicals company, has successfully placed a six-year-tenor euro benchmark bond with a coupon of 0.0 percent in the European capital market.
The company, with about 14,800 employees in 33 countries, will use the funds to finance the planned acquisition of IFF, a US-based chemical company involved in microbial control.

The new bond is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in denominations of EUR 1,000.

Michael Pontzen, CFO, LANXESS, said, “We have secured the first step of financing already quickly after the announcement of the acquisition of IFF Microbial Control and are happy about the very receptive reaction of the capital market to our offering.” (TT)

Goodyear has launched its new RT-3B bead-to-bead tread in US and Canada in sizes 20.5R25 and 23.5R25 for off-the-road (OTR) tyres.

The new retread provides all-around performance for loaders and graders. Joining the existing lineup of premium off-the-road Goodyear tyres, the retread provides up to 60 percent savings compared to a new tyre.

Used extensively in gruelling OTR applications, retreading helps extend the life of tyres while delivering high traction and minimal tread wear. Additionally, retreading promotes sustainability by reducing unnecessary waste.

The new Goodyear RT-3B is cured in a mould and press method to generate low heat through long hours of usage via its 115-level tread depth. Strongly cut-resistant in nature, the centerline lugs and open shoulder provides optimal traction.

Loic Ravasio, General Manager, Global and Americas OTR, Goodyear, said, “We are always focused on delivering high value and low cost of ownership to our OTR customers. The RT-3B is a substantial addition to our retread portfolio providing another great option for operators to help drive efficiency, reduce costs and protect the environment.” (TT)

Anshuman Singhania, Dy. Managing Director of JK Tyre, has been appointed managing director of the company, effective October 21,2020.

Anshuman Singhania joined the Company as an Executive and over the years has been deeply involved in various activities of the Company in different positions, said the company.

Singhania is also Vice Chairman of ATMA

He is a graduate from Oxford Brookes University, UK and an alumnus of London Business School. As a young leader, he started his career from the shop floor as an apprentice and has held several positions in Planning, Production, Product Development, Quality Control, Stores & Purchase, Finance as well as Sales & Marketing. Being a techno-savvy person, he has played a key role in implementing the latest technologies in the manufacturing process at JK Tyre.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires recently held the groundbreaking and foundation stone unveiling ceremony of its new plant at Atchutapuram, Visakhapatnam - Andhra Pradesh, India.

In the online event, Masataka Yamaishi , President & Chairman of the Board, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd broke the ground to commence construction work.

Yamaishi San unveiled the Foundation Stone virtually in the presence of Atao Kishi San: Chairman - ATC Tires Pvt. Ltd. and Managing Officer - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., Nitin Mantri – CEO and Anil Gupta – COO and the leadership team at Yokohama Off-Highway Tires.

The new plant will have a daily production capacity of 55 tons (rubber weight), with planned capital investment totalling US$165 million. The plant, which will be the company’s third plant in India, will manufacture its three brands ALLIANCE, GALAXY and PRIMEX brand tyres.

 Yokohama Off-Highway Tires currently has two tyre plants in India—the Dahej Plant in Gujarat and the Tirunelveli Plant in Tamil Nadu.