Radar Tires has appointed Karl Hannah as its new Territory Sales Manager for North America as it looks to expand its market presence and strengthen partner relations across the region.

Hannah brings over 17 years of industry experience, beginning with a retail role in the Sacramento area where he spent more than a decade. He later held multiple field positions during a six-year tenure at Sumitomo Rubber North America.

In his new role, Hannah will be responsible for advancing the Radar RED programme and broader brand development, with a focus on increasing sales and deepening ties with distribution partners throughout his territory.

“We’re excited to welcome Karl to the Radar Tires team,” said Rob Montasser, Vice President of Radar Tire, North America. “Karl’s industry experience, coupled with the fact that he is an off-road and outdoor enthusiast outside of work, makes him a perfect fit for the Radar brand. Karl’s breadth of knowledge and general enthusiasm around the products is just what we need to help us grow the Radar brand throughout his territory.”

Hannah said he is eager to contribute to the company’s growth: “I’m thrilled to join the Radar brand and I look forward to helping the growth of Radar Tires in North America. I look forward to proliferating the Radar RED program throughout my territory! Most importantly, I look forward to taking Radar Tires to new heights in the industry.”

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The Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) has confirmed Vijay K Misra as its new Chairman following a formal election. With a distinguished career spanning nearly 50 years in the tyre and rubber sector, Misra possesses extensive expertise in technology, product development, international collaborations and major greenfield projects.

His deep industry connections and proven leadership are anticipated to steer the IRI through its next period of growth and enhanced impact. The Institute also formally acknowledged Misra's pivotal role in founding the Dr D Banerjee Centre of Excellence in Mysuru, a premier hub for advanced training and industry-academia synergy.

Concurrently, sincere appreciation was extended to outgoing Chairman Dr R Mukhopadhyay for his valuable guidance, as he continues to support the Institute in the role of Chairman Emeritus.

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Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a forthcoming change to its representative leadership at a meeting on 25 December 2025, pending formal ratification at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for 26 March 2026.

The shift is part of a planned reorganisation of the company’s management framework effective from that date. Under the new structure, current Director and Senior Executive Officer Yasuaki Kuniyasu is slated to be appointed as the new Representative Director, President and CEO. Concurrently, the present President and CEO, Satoru Yamamoto, is expected to transition to the role of Representative Director and Chairperson of the Board.

Yasuaki Kuniyasu, aged 56, began his career with the company in April 1992. His tenure includes significant leadership roles, such as General Manager of the Tyre Technology Headquarters and, from January 2023, General Manager of the Corporate Management Planning & Administration Department. He has served as a Director and Senior Executive Officer since March 2023 and held 8,400 shares in the company as of 30 June 2025.

This planned succession aims to establish a renewed executive team to guide the company forward under its new governance model.

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Hankook Tire has secured a top-tier ‘A’ rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in Climate Change category for the second year in a row, affirming its status as a global leader in environmental stewardship. The CDP assessment is among the world’s most authoritative benchmarks for corporate sustainability, evaluating governance, emissions reduction and transparency. Hankook’s achievement reflects its comprehensive approach to managing climate impacts throughout its entire value chain, from raw materials to end-of-life tyre management.

This recognition is underpinned by a robust, long-term strategy targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2023, the company’s near-term 2030 goals and its 2050 net-zero ambition were formally validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Governance is central to this progress, with a dedicated Board-level Climate Change Committee ensuring climate risks and opportunities are integrated into core business decisions and that reduction progress is meticulously tracked and disclosed.

Operationally, Hankook is transforming its global production towards sustainable systems. It pioneered the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS in the tyre industry at its Geumsan Plant in 2021, a milestone since extended to facilities in Hungary and Daejeon. This establishes a certified framework for manufacturing sustainable tyres across consumer, original equipment and motorsport segments.

Complementing these efforts, Hankook is driving material innovation through strategic partnerships. The company is collaborating with firms like ROTOBOOST and Solvay to develop next-generation, low-carbon materials such as turquoise hydrogen-based carbon black and circular silica. It is also engaging in national research consortia to scale promising carbon reduction technologies. These initiatives are part of Hankook’s broader circular economy vision, branded E.Circle, which focuses on reducing fossil fuel dependence, conserving natural resources and systematically cutting carbon emissions.

Hankook’s leadership has garnered significant external validation. It earned the highest environmental accreditation from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and was named one of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024 by TIME and Statista. Together, these accomplishments demonstrate how Hankook Tire is embedding sustainability into its corporate identity to build long-term value and industry-wide resilience.

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ULTIMATE GREEN XT tyre has won two awards at the Awards, receiving Sustainable Product of the Year and being Highly Commended in the Innovative Product of the Year category.

The awards were presented last week in Dubai and add to earlier recognition for the product, which received the Best Innovation in Sustainability award at in Chicago earlier this year.

The Sustainable Product of the Year and Innovative Product of the Year categories recognise products that demonstrate environmental responsibility and technological innovation in the global automotive and mobility industry. The judges cited the tyre’s use of environmentally friendly materials and its reduced environmental impact.

The ULTIMATE GREEN XT, identified by its green colour, has been developed with a focus on sustainability while maintaining performance, durability and safety standards. The Sustainable Product of the Year award reflects its contribution to more sustainable mobility solutions, while the innovation commendation highlights its design and engineering approach.

Automechanika Dubai is the largest international trade fair for the automotive aftermarket across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and industry leaders. Recognition at the event underlines the international profile of the ULTIMATE GREEN XT following its earlier award in the United States.

Barry Guildford, global commercial director of GRI Tires, said, “This recognition at Automechanika Dubai is a proud milestone for GRI. The ULTIMATE GREEN XT reflects our vision of delivering innovative tire solutions that support sustainability while meeting the evolving needs of our customers worldwide.”

GRI said it would continue to invest in research and development aimed at advancing sustainable tyre technologies, following the continued recognition of the ULTIMATE GREEN XT in international markets.

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