New Bridgestone management structure to expedite decision-making

Tokyo – Bridgestone Corp. has announced plans to implement a ‘newly designed’ executive operation structure, which would simplify and reclassify its senior management team.

Effective 1 Jan, Bridgestone’s executive operation structure will be reduced from five layers to three layers, composed of senior officer, executive and management, it was announced 13 Nov.

Under the planned changes, the Japanese group is eliminating the existing executive-officer-system and reclassifying the existing vice president and senior officer positions to a senior officer position. The senior officer will serve as the head of each business/function and have global management responsibilities. 

The group is then reclassifying the existing corporate officer position to executive, who will be responsible for building division strategy and execution.

Bridgestone is reducing the number of officers from 60 to 20 and the number of “leader positions” by 20%. 

The Japanese group said the new structure aims to accelerate decision-making and transform it into a “leader organisation”.

Laurent Dartoux will maintain his position as VP and senior officer Bridgestone Corp. and chairman of Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, under the new structure.

Asahiko Nishiyama, VP and officer seconded to Bridgestone Americas and vice chair of Americas board will retire on 1 Jan 2021.