“Curt is a well-rounded business leader with a broad set of experiences who has been tested in a host of markets and businesses,” said Kramer.  “He has built and led successful teams. He also has a tremendous understanding of manufacturing, supply chain and sourcing from his experiences with both GE and Timken.  Curt brings a successful track record of leading organic sales growth through strong customer orientation and product innovation.”

Goodyear Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Keegan added, “We see Curt as a great fit with our organization and someone who will be able to continue to drive the positive momentum that has been created previously by Rich and his strong North American team.”

“I am extremely excited about becoming part of an outstanding leadership team at Goodyear in North America and to be able to provide the leadership and support that will continue the positive momentum of the business,” Andersson said.  “I’ve personally spent time with many of the company’s key business leaders and came away impressed with their capabilities, their passion and their results.”

A 1984 graduate of Northwestern University with a B.S. in electrical engineering, Andersson received his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School in 1989 and started his business career in marketing with IBM Corporation.  He also spent five years as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, Inc., and A.T. Kearney, Inc., before joining General Electric in 1994.

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Dr. Felix Gress new Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, Continental AG (Image: Continental AG)

Dr. Felix Gress (49) will become the new senior vice president of the Corporate Communications department of the Continental Corporation effective February 15, 2010. Currently the managing director at Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH, Mann­heim, Dr. Gress succeeds Dr. Heimo Prokop, who left the international automotive supplier on December 31, 2009. He reports directly to Continental’s Executive Board chairman Dr. Elmar Degenhart.

Prior to his current position, Dr. Gress was for many years the senior vice president of Com­munications at BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, where he succeeded not only in enhancing the brand image of the company but also advancing its management culture. “We are very pleased that, with Dr. Gress as new senior vice president of Corporate Communications, we have won an internationally experienced personality with proven expertise, particularly in the field of communications,” commented Dr. Degenhart.

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Bridgestone President Shoshi Arakawa (Image: Bridgestone)

The ceremony was held at the official residence of Mr. Johan Maricou, the Belgian Ambassador to Japan, who presented the award.

Arakawa was inaugurated as Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (“BSEU”) in March 2001 and held that position for approximately three years. The achievements of BSEU during his leadership period, his achievements during the period when he served as Senior Vice President, Responsible for International Operations, and as well as his accomplishments as CEO and President of Bridgestone Corporation, were significant in the evaluation of his contribution to the economic development of Belgium.

“The decoration of Commander of the Order of Leopold that you bestow on me today, as I understand, is in recognition of Bridgestone’s contribution to the economic development of your country,” stated Arakawa at the ceremony.

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New Chairman of Continental's Supervisory Board will be Wolfgang Reitzle (Image: Continental)

Dr. Michael Frenzel, chairman of the Executive Board of TUI AG and member of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG up to now, has made his mandate available with reference to the work load involved in his full-time position. The current Continental Supervisory Board chairman Rolf Koerfer said: “We thank Dr. Frenzel for his many years of valuable service in the Supervisory Board. He has always been an outstanding advisor to the Executive Board and to his colleagues on the Supervisory Board.” Koerfer will continue to be a member of the board and a member of the Chairman’s Committee.

“By reorganizing the Executive Board and now by filling the position in the Supervisory Board with a neutral person who comes from outside the two companies, Continental AG has established the personnel groundwork required to lead the company into a sustainably successful future together with its major shareholder,” noted Koerfer.

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“We are pleased that we have reached an agreement that accomplishes Goodyear’s bargaining goals and helps secure the future for its U.S. factories,” said Jim Allen, Goodyear’s Chief Negotiator.
The previous three-year labor agreement had been extended twice, and the most recent extension was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. EST on Aug. 29, 2009. The parties had been negotiating in Cincinnati since June 8, 2009.

The plants covered by the tentative agreement are: Akron, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y.; Danville, Va.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Gadsden, Ala.; Topeka, Kan.; and Union City, Tenn.

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Effective immediately, the chairman of Continental’s Executive Board, Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann (48), steps down from Continental’s Executive Board by mutual agreement. The Supervisory Board thanks Dr. Neumann for his work. Also effective immediately, Dr. Elmar Degenhart (50), previously chairman of the management board of the Automotive unit in the Schaeffler Group, is appointed as new chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG. At the same time, he takes charge of the Powertrain division.

Nicolai Setzer, now Member of the Executive Board at Continental, in charge for Passenger and Light Truck Tires (Image: Continental)

The chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mr. Rolf Koerfer, expressed his willingness to step down from his post as chairman of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG after reorganization of the Executive Board has been completed, including in particular the appointment of a CFO, and to initiate the election of a new member of the Supervisory Board to the post of chairman, who shall come from outside the companies. Mr. Koerfer will continue to be a member of the Supervisory Board as Chairman’s Committee member.

Furthermore, the Supervisory Board appointed three new members to the Executive Board: Dr. Ralf Cramer (43, head of the Chassis & Safety division of Continental AG), Mr. Helmut Matschi (46, head of the Interior division of Continental AG) and Mr. Nikolai Setzer (38, head of the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division of Continental AG).

The search for a new CFO, who is not to be recruited from either the company or from the Schaeffler organization, will get underway immediately.

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Andreas Gerstenberger takes responsibility for ContiTrade

The Passenger and Light Truck Tire Division of Continental today announced the appointment of Andreas Gerstenberger to the position of Executive Vice President of Continental AG`s European tire trading company ContiTrade with more than 2.000 retail and franchise outlets in twelve European countries. With effect of August 1, 2009 he will be reporting to Dr. Hartmut Wöhler who is in charge of the European and African Replacement Business for passenger and light truck tires.

“Andreas Gerstenberger has played a pivotal role in building an excellent Marketing and Sales team that contributed significantly to the turnaround of our North American operations. Developing and executing a consistent strategy, exiting unprofitable businesses, revamping the product portfolio of the Continental and General Tire brands as well as the launch of exciting consumer promotions and significant growth of the retail footprint contributed remarkably to the profitable growth Continental Tire North America experienced in its replacement market over the last years”, the CEO of Continental Tires The Americas and Continental Tire North America Matthias Schönberg said.

Gerstenberger has been Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales in Continental`s PLT tire business in the US and Canada since late 2003. Prior to this position he was in charge of the Original Equipment business in the NAFTA region. From 1998 onwards Gerstenberger was key account manager for the accounts of Ford and General Motors in Europe and South Africa before he took over the worldwide Ford account operating from Auburn Hills. Gerstenberger has received a master degree in economics at the University of Hanover, Germany and has started his career at Continental in the European Tire Supply Chain and Production Management in 1994.

Bill Caldwell is successor of Andreas Gerstenberger in US

At the same time Bill Caldwell was appointed as successor of Gerstenberger to the position of Vice President Marketing& Sales United States. Prior to this position, Caldwell was responsible for the Original Equipment business for passenger & light truck tires within Continental Tire The Americas. Before joining Continental in 2003, Caldwell worked for Ford Motor Company and Michelin, including experience in the areas of purchasing, account management and controlling. “We are happy to have Bill as Andreas` successor.

Caldwell is replaced by David O‘Donnell. Prior to this position, O’Donnell was responsible for Original Equipment Key Account Management in Europe and Africa. In the new function he will continue reporting to Karlheinz Evertz who is in charge of the business unit Original Equipment for passenger and light truck tires.

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Dr. Hubertus von Grünberg (Image: Continental)

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG, Hanover, Dr. Hubertus von Grünberg has this Friday communicated that he will lay down his position with immediate effect. He will also lay down his mandate as an ordinary member of the Supervisory Board with immediate effect and due to personal reasons. Until a new Chairman can be voted on, the Supervisory Board will be led by the Deputy Chairman, Werner Bischoff.

Dr. von Grünberg has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board since 1999 and Chief Executive Officer of the company between 1991 and June 1999.

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In his new function he will report to board director Dr. Hans-Joachim Nikolin, who represents the Commercial Vehicle Tyre Division and also, for the time being, the Car Tyre Division. There will be no change to the current structure with two tyre divisions.

Nikolai Setzer (Image: Continental)

Nikolai Setzer (37) is a graduated industrial engineer, who studied at the University of Darmstadt. Since joining Continental in 1997 he has held various positions, including head of the global Original Equipment Car Tyre Business with DaimlerChrysler, head of Research & Development Car Tyres and global Original Equipment Activities Car Tyres. These positions involved more than two years working in the USA. On 1st September 2008 he became head of the Replacement Business Car Tyres for Europe and Africa, as well as being responsible for the global marketing activities of the Car Tyre Division.

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Damon Audia (Image: Goodyear)

Damon Audia, formerly vice president and treasurer, has been appointed senior vice president of finance and treasurer. His expanded role includes Goodyear’s investor relations and tax functions. “Damon has been a key member of Goodyear’s finance organization over the past four years, and he was particularly instrumental in the execution of the plans to refinance the company over the last several years,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Darren R. Wells. “He has demonstrated the type of leadership we need in this role as we address the challenges of today’s economy.”

In a related move, Richard J. Noechel, formerly vice president and corporate controller, has been appointed vice president of finance for the company’s North American Tire business, replacing Marc O. Voorhees, who has been named chief operating officer of North American Tire’s consumer tire business. Vice President and Chief Information Officer Thomas A. Connell will replace Noechel as vice president and controller, while retaining his current leadership role for information technology.

“These moves reflect the Goodyear finance team’s focus on building our business,” said Wells. “Rick is an excellent leader and has a strong finance and accounting background – both critical qualities in today’s challenging environment. And, Tom returns to his former role as controller, where he has long been viewed as setting the standard for excellence in supporting the businesses with strong financial process discipline.”

Richard J. Kramer, president of the North American Tire business, said, “I’m pleased to see Marc make the move into an operational leadership role that essentially will focus on strategy, internal operations and back office support allowing those closest to the market to concentrate on the customers.”

Audia, 37, joined Goodyear as assistant treasurer, capital markets in December 2004 from Delphi Corporation, where he served in a variety of treasury and financial roles. Prior to Delphi, Audia spent time with General Motors, Merck and Ford Motor Company in a variety of finance positions.

Prior to becoming vice president and controller, Noechel, 40, had been chief financial officer of Goodyear’s South Pacific Tyre subsidiary in Australia since 2006. He began his career with Goodyear in 2004, serving as assistant controller at the company’s corporate headquarters in Akron. Prior to joining Goodyear, Noechel was vice president and controller for The Kmart Corporation from 2001 through 2004. He also worked for DaimlerChrysler in various positions and for Price Waterhouse LLP.

Before being named Chief Information Officer in February, Connell, 59, had been vice president and controller for Goodyear since 2003. Prior to that, he spent 24 years in financial management positions with TRW Inc.

Voorhees, 53, had spent the past three years as vice president of finance after joining Goodyear from Eastman Kodak Company. In his 28 years with Kodak, Voorhees held various operational, financial and international positions.

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