Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will combine its North America and Latin America businesses into one Americas business unit. The restructuring is effective Jan. 1, 2016.
“While the two former regions approach their markets differently, there also are many increasing similarities, especially the growth of high-value-added tires,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman and CEO. “This new organization is structured to accelerate growth and maximize earnings over time through simplicity, speed, and an intense focus on our customers and markets.”
The restructuring will give Goodyear greater flexibility to anticipate market changes and react to them faster, the tiremaker said.
Goodyear will combine its business processes including product development, forecasting and product supply as part of the restructure. Additionally, all of Goodyear’s manufacturing in the combined regions will be leveraged to serve customers in North America and Latin America, the tiremaker said.
The Americas business unit will be led by Stephen R. McClellan. McClellan currently serves as president of Goodyear’s North America business. Marcelo Toscani, currently vice president of global manufacturing, will serve as president of the company’s Latin America operations and report to McClellan.
McClellan joined Goodyear in 1988. He has been the president of the company’s North America business since 2011. Prior to that, he worked in the North American consumer tire business, commercial truck tire business, and served in other management roles in finance, sales and distribution.
Toscani is a native of Argentina. He has experience in marketing, manufacturing, and general management in several Latin American countries. In addition to his current role, Toscani has worked in leadership positions in Brazil and China during his more than 30 years at Goodyear, the tiremaker said.
In addition to combining its North America and Latin American businesses, Goodyear announced that Jean-Claude Kihn has been named president of its Europe, Middle East and Africa business.
Kihm is the current president of Goodyear’s Latin America business, and will assume his new role on Jan. 1, 2016. He succeeds Darren R. Wells, who will leave the company in early 2016.
Kihn joined Goodyear in 1988 as an engineer in the company’s technical center in his native Luxembourg. He has been a member of Goodyear’s senior leadership team since 2008. Prior to his role as president of Goodyear’s Latin America business, Kihn served as chief technical officer, senior vice president and managing director of Goodyear Brazil.
