Will We Have to Build a Palace, Too?

Speaking of endlessly rehashed phrases ending in the words “czar” or “gate,” seems like well-retired and maybe too revered former GE chief Jack Welch is the front-runner for any U.S. government oversight of the U.S. auto industry.

Longtime Tire Review Editor Jim Smith passed away on Feb. 18, 2016. He was 57. With 30 years in the tire and automotive industries, Jim's communications experience included stints as a newspaper reporter and editor, a public relations manager and a variety of creative and management roles with a B2B marketing communications agency. A Kent State University journalism major, Jim served as editor for a number of community newspapers in Northeast Ohio before joining Modern Tire Dealer in 1984. After four years in brand and corporate public relations roles with Bridgestone Americas, Jim joined Nashville's Stumpf Bartels Advertising in 1992. He became Tire Review's editor in October 1999. Jim was honored with the Ed Wagner Tire Industry Leadership Award by the Tire Industry Association in November 2014.

Published: December 10, 2008

Congress may well tell the Big 3 that if they want out booty, they will have an overseer. Welch’s name immediately hit airwaves as TV pundit after TV pundit failed to come up with other names.

Haven’t heard a squeak from Welch, of course, but the media has already crowned the Welch, who now writes a column for BusinessWeek (probably the most useful and intelligent business magazine out there).

I’m all in favor of someone watchdogging our tax dollars, but maybe he should be keeping an eye on those arses in the financial markets and our hundreds of billions there instead of overseeing an industry that needs a complete rebuild.

If you have comments to share, send to me at [email protected].

– Jim Smith

Goodyear names new Americas unit president

Ryan Waldron joined Goodyear in 2003, serving in leadership roles in finance and supply chain for multiple North America business areas.

By Christian Hinton

Published: April 23, 2024

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."