US tire association names new chief executive

Bowie, Maryland – The US Tire Industry Association (TIA) has selected former board member, 2005 association president and industry executive Richard “Dick” Gust, as CEO, effective 1 Jan 2022.

Gust, who chairs the association’s Environmental Advisory Council, will replace current CEO Roy Littlefield III, who is retiring after 18 years in the position.

“He [Gust] brings an extensive background to the position including more than 25 years of volunteer service with TIA and other industry organisations,” said president Dan Nothdurft.

Gust will join TIA from Liberty Tire Recycling where he serves as director of government affairs and president of national account sales. 

According to TIA, he is "well-known" in the scrap tire field and has previously served as president of Lakin Environmental Industries overseeing operations involving tire retreading, remanufacturing, scrap tire collections and scrap tire processing.

The incoming CEO began his tire industry career as a tire design engineer with Uniroyal Tire Co., now part of Michelin.