Goodyear names new chief technical officer

Akron, Ohio -- Goodyear has named Jean-Claude Kihn as senior vice president and chief technical officer to replace Joseph Gingo, who is retiring on 31 Dec.

On 1 Jan Kihn will take over from Gingo who will become president and CEO of plastics compounder A. Schulman Inc.

Kihn most recently served as general director of Goodyear's technical centre in Akron, a position he's held since 2005. He joined Goodyear in 1988 at the technical centre in Luxembourg and served in other positions in the tyre maker's Asian and Latin American business units.

“Jean-Claude has demonstrated excellent leadership throughout the time I have known him and worked with him,” said Robert Keegan, Goodyear chairman and CEO, in a 19 Dec statement. “He has gained the trust of our business leaders in Europe, Latin America and North America through his recent assignments in those businesses,” he added.

Goodyear also made the following appointments:

* William Hopkins, to vice president of advanced concepts from vice president of technology and strategic initiatives;

* Joseph Zekoski, to vice president of global produce development and technical center operations from general director of the technical center in Luxembourg;

* Surendra Chawla, to senior director of external science from director of corporate tire research; and

* Marc Junio, to general director of Akron's technical centre from director of technology, consumer tyres for the European Union and eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa regions.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)

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