AKRON, Ohio — Goodyear announced today that W. Mark Schmitz, executive vice president and chief financial officer, has elected to leave the company to pursue other interests. Schmitz, 57, served the company as chief financial officer for the past 14 months.
Darren Wells, previously senior vice president of finance and strategy, has been named to replace Schmitz as CFO effective immediately, according to Chairman and CEO Robert Keegan.
Wells, 42, was one of the key leaders and architects of the company’s financial restructuring since joining the company as vice president and treasurer. Wells came to Goodyear six years ago from Visteon Corp. He was promoted to senior vice president business development and treasurer in May 2005, and to his most recent position in March 2007.
A native of Indianapolis, Wells earned his bachelor of arts degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.; and his MBA in finance from Indiana University. He held positions of increasing importance during 10 years at Ford Motor Co., including assignments in Australia for Ford Credit and Ford Investment Enterprises. He returned to the U.S. in 2000 as assistant treasurer of Visteon.
Schmitz was previously with Tyco International’s Fire and Security segment as vice president and chief financial officer for four years prior to joining Goodyear.
