Bridgestone Americas combines truck, OTR businesses

ERJ staff report (TB)

Nashville, Tennessee -- Bridgestone Americas has combined its North American commercial truck tyre and OTR tyre businesses into one unit, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions Group, with Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions President Kurt Danielson named to head the new entity.

“Our vision is to be the clear leader in our industries,” said Saul Solomon, executive vice president, Bridgestone Americas Inc. and president, US & Canada Commercial Tire Operations for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

“This realignment puts the right people in the right places. Kurt is a strong leader and will be able to bring this team together in a way that optimises our strengths and expertise to better serve our customers.”

Specifically, the action combines the resources of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions and Off Road Tire, US & Canada Tire Sales.

Danielson, who's been head of Bridgestone Bandag since July 2010, reports to Solomon.

Shawn Rasey, president of Bridgestone's Off Road Tire, US & Canada Tire Sales unit since October 2008, will become president of the mining group and vice president for OE and government sales for all commercial accounts.

“The key to this realignment is improved customer service,” Danielson told Tire Business. “We had some overlaps in our distribution networks and customer bases, so it made sense to look at a more holistic approach.”

Danielson also said that by “creating one team for our new truck tyre, retread and OTR business, we'll better leverage our talent, create a more cohesive team and offer a higher level of service.”

The realignment will result in the elimination of about 30 jobs - including eight open positions - effective immediately. Most are field sales positions.

The unit will be based in Nashville, where Bridgestone Bandag was relocated just five months ago from Muscatine, Iowa.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)