FULLERTON, CA — Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) has announced changes in senior management roles and responsibilities, which will be effective April 1.

Norio Karashima, current president and CEO of YTC, will return to Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) corporate headquarters in Japan to assume an increase in responsibilities. As managing corporate officer, Karashima will be based in Tokyo, where he will take on global responsibility over YRC’s Off-the-Road Tire and Aircraft Tire Division, Tire Logistics Division, and as general manager of Tire Planning Division. He will also retain his duties in charge of Tire North America Business Department and as president of Yokohama Corporation of America.

Karashima’s new duties were previously managed by Tooru Kobayashi, who has been promoted to director and managing corporate officer, president of Multiple Business Group at YRC.

Karashima joined YRC in 1976 and became a corporate officer and president of YTC in 2004. He has also served as president of Yokohama Reifen in Germany.

Takao Oishi will succeed Karashima as president and CEO of YTC. Oishi joined YTC in 2007 as executive vice president, responsible for MIS, OE sales, strategic marketing and operations. Oishi previously served as president of Yokohama Europe and lived in Dusseldorf, Germany.

YRC also announced that Tetsuya Mizoguchi will assume a change in position as director and managing corporate officer, general manager of R&D Center.

For more information about Yokohama Tire, go to: www.yokohamatire.com.