BFS announces retirements, staff changes

Nashville, Tennessee -- Masao Wada, president of Bridgestone

Firestone Manufacturing Operations, will retire March 1 and will be

succeeded by Vice President Steven Brooks.

Wada also plans to retire from his positions as executive vice

president and member of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.´s board of

directors. He is a 37-year veteran of the company, serving in a variety

of positions.

Brooks´ appointment is effective Jan. 1 to provide a smooth transition, BFS said.

Separately, Ralph Burchfield, president of the Off Road Products

Division and Firestone Agricultural Tire Co., also will retire Jan. 1.

He also is a member of the board for Bridgestone Firestone North

American Tire.

With his retirement, BFS said it will eliminate the division operating

group, and instead the group businesses-Firestone Ag, Off Road Tire

group and Firestone Tube Co.-will report directly to Asahiko "Duke"

Nishiyama, president of BFS North American Tire.

Firestone Agricultural will be headed by Kenneth Allen as vice president; OTR by

Thomas Shawn Rasey as vice president; and Firestone Tube by Scott

Gateley as general manager.