ERJ staff report (TB)
Akron − Goodyear's board of directors has named four members of the company's senior leadership to new roles, effective 1 December, reported Tire Business
Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer, has been named president of Goodyear's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business unit, Goodyear said.
Arthur de Bok, currently president of the company's EMEA business, will assume a new role as senior vice president, responsible for driving standardized and integrated sales and marketing processes across Goodyear.
Laura K. Thompson, vice president of finance, North America, will succeed Wells as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Damon J. Audia, senior vice president of business development, will succeed Thompson as senior vice president of finance in Goodyear's North America business.
“The succession moves we are announcing today place proven Goodyear leaders in key roles that will enable us to stay on our Strategy Roadmap and maintain our positive momentum,” Goodyear Chairman and CEO Richard J. Kramer said.
“We are confident that these leaders will continue to deliver on our business objectives and create sustainable value for our shareholders.”
Wells, 47, has been Goodyear's executive vice president and CFO since October 2008, according to Goodyear. Previously, he served as senior vice president of finance and strategy and, prior to that, senior vice president, business development and treasurer. Wells joined Goodyear as vice president and treasurer in August 2002.
Kramer said he is pleased to have Wells “taking over leadership of the EMEA business,” calling him “a key leader in the company's strategic journey over the past 11 years” who “has worked as a valued business partner with me and the rest of Goodyear's leadership team.”
He added that Wells is “well-versed in our strategy roadmap, and his in-depth knowledge of our global business will help him leverage the company's global capabilities in driving improved results in the EMEA business.”
De Bok, 51, has been the president of Goodyear's EMEA business unit since 2008. Immediately prior, he was president of the company's European Union business, and earlier served as vice president, consumer tires in the region. He joined Goodyear in 2002 as vice president, sales and marketing, for consumer tires in Europe.
“During his tenure, he has led our EMEA business to several years of record earnings while driving the integration of business processes across Goodyear's most geographically diverse region,” Mr. Kramer said.
“Under Arthur's guidance, we launched a long list of award-winning products developed from the market back and enhanced our product portfolio with a more profitable mix of premium tires.”
Thompson, 49, has been vice president of finance for the company's North American business since 2011, Goodyear said.
During her 30-year career at the Akron-based tire manufacturer, she has held leadership positions of increasing responsibility in various business unit and corporate finance roles in addition to successfully leading several strategic initiatives for the company, Goodyear said, noting she also excelled in key externally facing roles, leading business development and investor relations.
Kramer said Thompson “has played a key role in the turnaround of our North America results.”
He added that she has been “an outstanding executive” and that her “deep knowledge of Goodyear, her business and financial background, and her strong relationships both inside and outside the company make her ideally suited to take on her new role as CFO.”
Audia, 42, has held both corporate and business unit financial responsibilities, Goodyear said. For the past year, he has been senior vice president of business development after having served as the senior vice president of finance for the company's Asia-Pacific business.
Prior to that, as the company's treasurer, he was integral to the company's successful debt refinancing transactions, while also having responsibility for the firm's tax function and investor relations.
Audia joined Goodyear in 2004 as assistant treasurer, capital markets.
“Damon joins the North America team as finance leader with a proven track record of delivering results at the corporate level and in the business,” Kramer said.
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His broad and deep skill set makes him the ideal choice for this critical business partner role. Over his career, Damon has played a key role as treasurer and most recently as head of business development. He also was instrumental in helping position our Asia Pacific business for growth as its head of finance.”
