BFS' Lampe to retire

From Rubber & Plastics News

Nashville, Tennessee-John Lampe, chairman, president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. for the past three years, will retire from those posts 31 March. He will be succeeded by Mark Emkes, currently chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC.

Lampe, a 30-year veteran of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone, said he is retiring to spend more time with his family. He will remain on the Bridgestone Americas board of directors following his retirement.

Lampe took over as the top executive of Bridgestone/Firestone in North America in October 2000 in the midst of the Firestone Wilderness/ATX recalls. He succeeded Masatoshi Ono, who stepped down after seven years at the helm of the company.

Emkes is a 27-year veteran with the company and will keep his chairman and CEO duties at the North American tire unit, Bridgestone Americas said. Prior to being named to those posts in September 2002, Emkes was president of Bridgestone/Firestone Latin American Operations.

Other executive changes occurring at the same time are:

Yuji Tomiyasu, formerly director, Americas and European operations, Bridgestone Corp., joins Bridgestone Americas as executive vice president and has taken assignments as president and vice chairman of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire. He will assume additional duties as vice chairman and president of Bridgestone Americas on 1 April.

Mike Gorey, currently vice president and controller, Bridgestone Americas, and chief financial officer, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, has been appointed chairman, CEO and president of BFS Diversified Products LLC.