AKRON, Ohio -- Gregory Fritz has joined Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. as vice president, investor relations. He will report to Darren Wells, executive vice president and CFO.

Fritz will succeed Patrick Stobb, who has been named to a senior finance position in Goodyear's North American Tire business. Stobb has had responsibility for the company's investor relations since 2008.

Fritz previously served as assistant treasurer and senior director, investor relations for Whirlpool Corp. Prior to joining Whirlpool in 2007, he was director of corporate finance and business planning and analysis at Stoneridge, Inc. He was a senior research analyst at Midwest Research from 2000 to 2002 and a research associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from 1997 to 2000, where he covered the automotive industry.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from Oakland University in 1997 and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business in 2006.