Infiniteria, the tyre recycling joint venture backed by Scandinavian Enviro Systems, Antin Infrastructure Partners and Michelin, has named Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren as its new chief executive as the company moves into a phase of industrial expansion.

Ryttberg-Wallgren, who has taken up the role on 1 December, succeeds Stefano Madeddu. She most recently served as chief growth officer at Stegra, a Swedish green steel venture. Her earlier career includes senior positions at PIAB, Yara International, Sandvik and Sapa, giving her broad experience in scaling industrial operations internationally.

The appointment signals a shift in leadership priorities at Infiniteria, with an emphasis on what the company describes as “industrial logic and value creation”. Announcing the move, Anand Jagannathan, senior partner at Antin Infrastructure Partners’ NextGen strategy, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren as CEO of Infiniteria. She offers a strong combination of Swedish industrial experience, a track-record in international expansion and strong sustainability credentials, all of which are highly relevant for Infiniteria and the journey ahead of us.”

Enviro is developing a full-scale tyre recycling plant near Uddevalla on Sweden’s west coast, expected to be Infiniteria’s inaugural site. The venture aims to build additional facilities across Europe to process end-of-life tyres using Enviro’s patented pyrolysis technology, which breaks down materials for reuse in industrial applications. The partners say the process will support circular production models and reduce carbon emissions in sectors heavily reliant on fossil-derived inputs.

The expansion plans place Infiniteria among several European initiatives seeking to commercialise advanced recycling technologies as regulators push for higher material recovery rates and lower industrial emissions.

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In a strategic move to strengthen its connection with vital regional audiences, Bridgestone India has partnered with multifaceted Punjabi star Parmish Verma. This collaboration is designed to resonate deeply in North India, a crucial and rapidly expanding market fuelled by increasing vehicle ownership and a youthful demographic. Verma, a prominent cultural figure and known automobile enthusiast, aligns naturally with the brand’s emphasis on safety, reliability and performance. His authentic passion for vehicles and responsible driving complements Bridgestone’s identity as a leading mobility solutions provider.

Central to this alliance is the co-creation of engaging, music-led narratives and digital content for Bridgestone’s campaigns, leveraging Verma’s artistic talents and significant social influence. This approach recognises the powerful role of popular culture in shaping brand preferences within the region. The partnership also advances the company’s broader regional engagement goals, aiming to build deeper trust with consumers nationwide. Furthermore, it embodies the ‘Emotion’ principle of Bridgestone’s corporate commitment, which seeks to inspire excitement and deliver joy through mobility. By uniting with a figure of Verma’s reach and genuine interest, Bridgestone India fosters a more dynamic and culturally relevant dialogue with its audience.

Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director – Sales & Marketing, Bridgestone India, said, “North India is a strategically important market for us. Parmish Verma’s credibility and deep connection with audiences make him an ideal partner to represent Bridgestone. This collaboration enables us to engage meaningfully with young consumers who seek fresh, inspiring and relatable brand experiences.”

Verma said, “Bridgestone is a brand people trust for safety and performance. I’m proud to be associated with an organisation that values quality and puts customers first. I look forward to connecting with audiences in a new and meaningful way through this partnership.”

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Bridgestone Americas has appointed Michele Herlein as its new Chief People Officer. In this role, she will oversee all human resources operations across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Her primary focus will be advancing the company's Culture 2.0 initiative, which aims to enhance teammate empowerment, collaboration and accountability.

Herlein rejoins Bridgestone with over two decades of executive leadership expertise. Her background includes previous positions within Bridgestone Americas and Bandag, Inc., centred on culture, leadership development and succession planning. Most recently, she was the Founder and CEO of CultureMax and previously served as the Chief Administrative and Human Resource Officer at Barge Design Solutions. She is also a published authority on creating high-performance organisational cultures. Beyond her corporate work, Herlein is a co-founder of Impact100 Nashville, a philanthropic women’s collective that has awarded more than USD 1.2 million in grants to area nonprofits.

Scott Damon, Bridgestone West CEO and Group President of Bridgestone Americas, said, “I am excited to welcome her back to Bridgestone, recognising the perspective and presence she will add to our West leadership team, the HR function and the broader organisation.”

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Alliance, a prominent global tyre brand under Yokohama-ATG, introduced its new Agri Star II Row Crop tyre to the UK agricultural sector during the recent LAMMA UK 2026 event. This launch marked the product's UK debut following its initial presentation at Agritechnica 2025. The tyre is specifically engineered for row crop tractors and specialist machinery, including self-propelled and trailed sprayers, operating in crops such as cereals, maize and oilseed rape.

Central to the tyre's design is Alliance's Stratified Layer Technology (SLT), which incorporates two distinct rubber layers within each lug to maintain reliable traction and stability even as the tyre wears. This approach is part of a design focused on mitigating soil compaction through a wider tread that improves load distribution, thereby helping to protect soil structure and preserve crop yields.

To address the evolving demands of modern farming, the tyre is built for high-speed road travel, boasting an E-speed rating that allows for operational speeds up to 70 kmph. This capability accommodates the increasing distances machinery must cover between fields. Simultaneously, the tyre is engineered to provide effective low-pressure performance during actual field work. It brings VF technology to this segment, a critical development as agricultural equipment continues to grow in both weight and the frequency of road use.

The construction emphasises durability, incorporating features like a stubble guard and advanced, wear-resistant compounds to ensure a long service life under challenging conditions. Available in rim sizes ranging from 24 to 54 inches, the Agri Star II Row Crop is designed for compatibility with a broad spectrum of contemporary farm machinery. This new model extends the proven platform of the Agri Star II series, of which over one million units have been sold globally, delivering its established technological benefits into the specialised realm of row crop agriculture.

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Hankook Tire has appointed Seunghwan (Aaron) Hong as Vice President of Marketing for its North America Headquarters in Nashville. He assumes this position following the promotion of Kyuwang (Ken) Cho, who is now leading the company’s Global Truck & Bus Division from Seoul.

In his new capacity, Hong will be responsible for North American marketing strategy, technical services, Canadian operations and supply chain logistics, focusing on strengthening the brand’s support for regional tyre dealers. Hong’s extensive two-decade career with Hankook includes leadership roles such as Managing Director in Canada and the Netherlands, along with a strategic position in the Global TB sales division.

Cho, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in North America, returns to Korea, where he had earlier held a senior global sales role within the TB division.

Rob Williams, President, Hankook Tire America Corp., said, "We're thrilled to welcome Aaron to Nashville as our new Vice President of Marketing. He brings a wealth of global experience and a proven ability to drive growth across diverse markets. As we continue to expand our brand and strengthen relationships with our dealers throughout North America, Aaron's strategic vision will be key to advancing Hankook's innovation and performance in the tyre market. We are appreciative of Ken's leadership over the past year in elevating our presence across both consumer and commercial channels."

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