Cicero Appointed New Denman Tire CEO
Emanuele (Manny) Cicero has been named president and CEO of Denman Tire Corp., effective May 1, the company announced. Cicero replaces Charles Wright, who is retiring. Cicero, a seasoned professional with more than 27 years of experience in the tire industry, began his career with Michelin in 1978. In 1984, he joined Bridgestone as territory manager for Metro New York. Then, in 1999, Cicero was named president, OTR tire sales, for Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire.
Out of the Ordinary: Executive Interview with Tom Dattilo, Cooper Tire & Rubber President and CEO
To get a sense of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and its chairman, president and CEO, you need look no further than Tom Dattilo’s corner office. Unlike the vistas other captains of industry enjoy from their lofty perches, Dattilo’s third-floor office overlooks Oler’s Drive Thru, a convenience store that stands as a stark reminder of who the real boss is – the retail customer.
Union Negotiations Continue at Bridgestone/Firestone Plants
Negotiations between Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) and the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) continue, even as the union makes plan to strike eight BFNAT plants where it represents hourly workers. A series of strike preparation meetings have been or will be held at USWA locals representing the plants. The first meetings were held Mar. 8 and the last are scheduled for Mar. 22. The terms of its agreement to continue working under its previous master contract with BFNAT require the USWA to provide five days’ notice before going on strike, so it is unlikely any job action will occur near-term.
Hayes Lemmerz Appoints VP of Sales for its International Wheel Group
Hayes Lemmerz International has appointed Pieter Klinkers to the position of vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s International Wheel Group. Pieter replaces Marc Hendrickx who was recently appointed vice president of the International Wheel Group’s Aluminum Operations. Klinkers will report directly to President Fred Bentley.
Investcorp to Acquire American Tire Distributors
Investcorp, a global investment group, reached a definitive agreement today to acquire American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) from its majority shareholder, Charlesbank Capital Partners. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in late March, were not announced. ATD is the largest independent tire distributor in the U.S., with 70 distribution centers in 35 states, servicing some 40,000 tire dealer locations across the country. Founded in 1935 as Heafner Tire Co., the company changed its name to ATD in 2002.
Reports Suggest Major Overhaul in Racing Tire Battles
Could there be a major tire shakeup brewing in the world’s two most popular auto racing series? The Jan. 28 Winston-Salem Journal reported that NASCAR may be considering a “major change in its tire supplier contract.” Goodyear has long been the primary sponsor for all NASCAR Nextel Cup events. The newspaper suggested that Michelin “is rumored to be in line for the exclusive deal in the next year or two.”
Industry Reaches Out to Tsunami Victims
Numerous automotive aftermarket industry associations and businesses have been reaching out to the victims of last month’s devastating tsunami in south Asia. The 8.9-magnitude quake hit December 26 off the coast of Indonesia, triggering extremely large waves that have brought massive flooding, damage and loss of life in the region. More than 140,000 are reported dead, with countless others left homeless and injured.
Executive Interview with James Croston, Director of Marketing, Trico Products
Our latest Executive Interview features James Croston, director of marketing, Trico Products. As director of marketing for Trico Products, Croston has surfaced as a leader in today’s highly competitive automotive aftermarket. He has dedicated the last 15 years at Trico to developing new products that fill voids in the marketplace, educating the sellers and the buyers alike and finding better ways of communicating with potential and existing customers. Croston recently shared with us his opinions on the future of the wiper blade segment, as well as details about Trico’s recent product launches for the Innovision and Oktane lines.
TBC Adds to Senior Management Team
TBC Corp. hired former Michelin North America marketing executive Erik Olsen to the newly created position of senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In that capacity, Olsen, 41, will oversee TBC’s various brands, with “immediate focus” on its retail operations including Big O, Tire Kingdom, Merchants Tire and NTB.
BFGoodrich Talks Deadlocked; Strike Deadline Approaches
Negotiations between the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and three of Michelin North America’s BFGoodrich plants remain deadlocked just hours before a deadline that could result in a 3,500-worker strike. The bargaining talks involve BFGoodrich’s three U.S. plants in Woodburn, Ind. (near Fort Wayne); Opelika, Ala.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala.