Effective Jan. 1, 2015, Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. named Takuji Yamamoto general manager of the company’s North America business unit tire business group headquarters. Yamamoto replaces James L. Hawk, who will serve as chairman of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc.

Toyo also announced that its DT strategic planning department would be dissolved. The company established a new DT planning and administration department under its DT business group headquarters. The move will transfer the strategic planning and business management functions of the department to the DT planning and administration department. Hisanari Takai will oversee those two functions in his new role as general manager of DT planning and administration department, DT business group headquarters.

Also effective Jan. 1, Don Bunn will serve as president of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. He formerly held the position of senior director of technical services at Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc.