Kumho, Insurance Firm Enter Partnership

On June 16, Kumho Tire Co. announced it has entered into a strategic customer services partnership with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and will soon launch a full-fledged joint marketing program.

In unveiling the details of this arrangement, the tiremaker commented that these days many businesses “are creating synergies through partnerships with other sectors.”

As companies in the automotive sector and the insurance sector, Kumho and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance will, says Kumho, maximize the scope of their partnership to effectively drive sales growth. Collaboration between different sectors will also lead to diversified and differentiated customer services, Kumho believes. A further reason the two companies gave for entering into the partnership is to enhance the safety of their customers.

“The partnership agreement was signed as part of an effort by both companies to more effectively offer better customer service on the strength of experiences in diverse sectors,” Kumho elaborated. “The partnership is recognized as an attempt to break away from typical marketing structures that were based on partnerships between players from the same business sector. Both companies expect that effects from this synergy will include improved customer satisfaction, the attraction of new customers, and sales growth.”

Kumho says it plans to provide customers and employees of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance with special discounts on tires, free wheel alignment check-up services and various other benefits. On their side, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance will launch diverse insurance products for the safety management of Kumho sales agents.

“I expect that the partnership with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance will improve customer satisfaction for both companies, as all customers will see benefits,” said Hae-Eok Choi, executive director of sales at Kumho. “The win-win marketing will create synergies, such as the attraction of new customers and sales growth for both companies. We will strive to maximize customer satisfaction by continuously developing and operating diversified, differentiated customer services in the future.” (Tyres & Accessories)

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.