Goodyear appoints Motorola Solutions CFO Jason Winkler to Board of Directors
- By TT News
- May 17, 2025
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has elected Jason J Winkler to its Board of Directors, effective 15 May 2025, the company announced today.
Winkler, who currently serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Motorola Solutions, will join Goodyear's Audit Committee and Committee on Corporate Responsibility and Compliance.
"We are pleased to welcome Jason Winkler to Goodyear's Board of Directors," said Chairman of the Board Laurette T. Koellner. "His extensive global finance leadership experience will be an incredible asset as Goodyear continues to drive substantial company and shareholder value by delivering significant margin expansion, an optimised portfolio and reduced leverage under the Goodyear Forward transformation plan."
Winkler brings over two decades of financial leadership experience to the tyre manufacturer's board. Since joining Motorola in 2001, he has held numerous financial leadership positions across investor relations, global channel management, mergers and acquisitions, and product operations.
In his current role at Motorola Solutions, Winkler oversees the company's financial strategy and leads its finance, supply chain and information technology functions. He has been instrumental in driving significant transformation at Motorola, achieving growth, margin expansion and balance sheet improvements that have contributed to strong shareholder returns.
Prior to his tenure at Motorola, Winkler worked at Oracle and Hewitt Associates, now AON. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.
In a significant leadership update, LD Carbon (LDC) has announced a restructuring of the chief executive office at the company. The company confirmed that Seong-Moon Baek will now serve as the sole CEO. This move follows the departure of former co-CEO Yong-Kyung Hwang from the executive position.
The change is effective immediately as the company continues to advance its initiatives in the sustainable materials sector. Chief Commercial Officer Bumseek Kim (BK) formally communicated the development in a statement, saying, “Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.”
Jo Dennis Named MD At WF Recycle-Tech
- By TT News
- October 07, 2025
WF Recycle-Tech has announced a significant leadership transition with Jo Dennis assuming the role of Managing Director, succeeding Founder Paul Neville.
Dennis brings extensive experience in manufacturing and tyre pyrolysis, with a proven track record in guiding businesses through scale-up, growth and operational improvement phases. His leadership will be instrumental as the company advances its patented pyrolysis technology, which converts end-of-life tyres into valuable products like oil, syngas and recovered carbon black. Shareholders Farrel Pomini and HF GROUP endorse this technology and support its full-scale commercialisation and global deployment.
The company expressed gratitude to Neville for his foundational decade of service and for developing the core patented technology. He will continue to contribute to the growing team in a consulting capacity, focusing on new business opportunities.
The company statement read: “We would like to thank Paul for his many years of commitment and service as Founder and Managing Director over the last decade, and also congratulate him for his achievements in developing the patented technology upon which WFRT will now build its business. We are also pleased to retain Paul in our growing team in a consulting capacity to support and develop new business opportunities.”
VIPO a.s., a Slovakian manufacturer of bead winding and apexing machinery for tyre production, has established a wholly owned subsidiary in India to capitalise on growing demand in one of the world's largest automotive markets.
VIPO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED commences operations on 1 October from New Delhi, providing technical support, spare parts production, and customer service to tyre manufacturers across the country, the Partizánske-based company said in a statement.
The move represents a significant expansion for the mid-sized engineering firm, which supplies automation equipment to tyre makers globally. India's tyre industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by robust vehicle sales and infrastructure development.
"The launch of VIPO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED is a milestone in our global expansion," said Peter Duchovic, chief executive of VIPO a.s. "India represents not only one of the fastest-growing tyre and automotive markets but also a hub of innovation."
The subsidiary will offer locally produced components for high-wear parts and provide digital services including artificial intelligence-driven condition monitoring and augmented reality-based training programmes, the company said.
VIPO specialises in bead winding lines - equipment used to produce the steel wire bundles that anchor tyres to wheel rims. The company stated that its systems incorporate robotics and automation to reduce energy consumption and enhance production efficiency.
"With our New Delhi subsidiary, we will be closer to our customers — listening carefully to their requirements and integrating their needs into the development of new devices and services," Duchovic said.
The firm has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative, a framework for corporate emissions reductions aligned with climate science, according to the statement.
Michelin Rolls Out First Indian-Made Premium Car Tyres in Chennai
- By TT News
- September 30, 2025
French group targets fast-growing SUV segment with INR 6.86 billion
Michelin has produced its first premium passenger car tyre in India, marking a strategic shift for the French manufacturer’s Chennai facility, which previously focused exclusively on commercial vehicle production.
The plant unveiled the made-in-India passenger tyres on Tuesday, with commercial availability planned for the first half of 2026. The company will target the premium segment with products ranging from 16 to 22 inches, including its Primacy 5 range as the initial offering.
Michelin will manufacture its LTX Trail ST, Pilot Sport 4 SUV, Pilot Sport 5, and Primacy 5 ranges in India.
The move follows Michelin’s September 2024 announcement of an INR5.64 billion investment in passenger car tyre manufacturing. The group has since added over INR 1 billion for subsequent phases, bringing total investment to INR 6.86 billion, supplementing the INR 28 billion already deployed at the Chennai site.
India’s passenger car market, valued at USD 18.13 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 33.85 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 11 percent. Sport utility vehicles now account for more than half the market, a trend that Michelin is positioning itself to capitalise on.
“Better infrastructure, rising disposable income, changing consumer preference of the growing Indian middle class’s desire for more versatile, spacious, and feature-rich vehicles are fuelling growth and premiumisation of the car park,” the company said in a statement.
Michelin scaled production in 12 months from announcement to first output, including 50,000 hours of employee training at various Michelin factories overseas. The new passenger car line spans 22,000 square metres and incorporates what the company describes as “Industry 5.0” automation.
The facility requires only 200 employees, compared to the industry standard of 500 for comparable capacity, according to Michelin. The Chennai plant already produces 38 tyre variants for trucks, buses and defence applications, with all business-to-business products fitted with radio-frequency identification tags.
Michelin has expanded its retail presence to 75 standalone service centres across India and opened what it terms an “experience store” in Nashik. The company plans to expand this network as production increases.
The Chennai facility operates with a zero carbon footprint, zero liquid discharge, and complete recycling, sourcing 80 per cent of its water from rainwater harvesting while drawing 45 per cent of its energy from renewable sources.
The company, which employs 129,800 people across 175 countries, positions itself as a “world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites” with operations spanning mobility, construction, aeronautics and healthcare sectors.
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