Sumitomo creates regional HQs in major restructuring

Kobe, Japan - Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) is set to launch major organisational and personnel changes, effective as of 30 March, the company has announced.

The organisational changes will include the establishment of an Asia Pacific regional headquarters, Europe and Africa regional headquarters and Americas regional headquarters.

The restructuring follows the formal ending of a global business alliance between Goodyear and SRI last October.

The aim of the reorganisation, according to SRI, is to reinforce the group's management, while speeding up decision-making process.

The decision-making will based on a “more timely understanding of our overall business situation in each key region”, said the Japanese tire company.

The Africa and Europe HQ will be headed by Yutaka Kuroda, as a director and senior executive officer within the group.

Yasutaka Li, another current executive officer will also take over as the position of general manager of Americas regional HQ.

Director and senior executive officer, Satoru Yamamoto, will be the general manager of Asia Pacific regional HQ.

The company did not give further details on the location and structure of the regional HQs.