AKRON, Ohio — Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced that Stephen McClellan and Joe Copeland have been named to new leadership assignments within the company’s North American Tire business.

McClellan, formerly vice president of Commercial Tire Systems, has been named president of the North American Tire Consumer business, replacing Lawrence Mason, who has announced he will leave the company.

Copeland, previously vice president of the Off-Highway businesses, becomes vice president of Commercial Tire Systems, replacing McClellan. A replacement for Copeland will be named at a later date.

"Steve and Joe are two proven leaders who have demonstrated the strategic, operational and team building success that will have an immediate impact in their new assignments," said Richard Kramer, president of North American Tire. "They have a track record of exceptional performance at every level and are well positioned to help lead our businesses into the future."

McClellan, 42, has spent his entire career at Goodyear since joining the company in 1988. Most of his experience has been in a variety of management roles within the consumer tire business, including finance, sales and distribution. In December 2001, he moved into the commercial tire business, serving as president of Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems, Goodyear’s industry-leading national network of commercial tire sales, retreading and service. He was promoted to vice president, Commercial Tire Systems in September 2003.

"Steve drove the development of our winning ‘cradle-to-grave’ business model that focuses on responding to customer needs throughout the product and service lifecycle," Kramer said. "This strategy is now the model in the industry. More importantly, Steve’s focus on listening to customers and providing impactful business solutions will be ideal in his new consumer role."

Copeland, 47, has a broad base of experience both outside and inside of Goodyear. He holds degrees from Baylor University (accounting and law) and an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago. He came to Goodyear in August 2000 having worked in various capacities at Ford Motor Co. and Intel Corp. At Goodyear, he has held a number of significant positions, including president of Goodyear’s chemical division, senior vice president of business development, strategy and restructuring, and CEO of South Pacific Tyre (Australia) before moving into the position of vice president of Off-Highway businesses in February 2007.

"Joe’s leadership has been instrumental in the successes of each of the businesses that he has been associated with during his Goodyear tenure," Kramer said. "His outside knowledge and experiences combined with extensive customer relationships have helped us develop new approaches to problem solving, strategy and business growth. Having overseen such areas as off-the-road, aviation and racing tires, Joe will transition seamlessly into the commercial business.

"Both Steve and Joe provide the talent and leadership necessary for us to continue our strategic momentum in North American Tire."

At the same time, Kramer said the contributions of Mason have been significant since he joined Goodyear in the early stages of the company’s turnaround in October of 2003. "Having brought extensive consumer goods experience, Larry championed our efforts in market-back thinking and product excellence," Kramer said. "Larry and the outstanding team he built were essential to our development of innovative, category leading products and marketing. Those elements remain an integral part of our future success. We truly appreciate and value his contributions and wish him well in his new endeavors."

The leadership changes are effective immediately.