Bridgestone US creates chief information officer position

ERJ staff report (TB)

Nashville, Tennessee -- Bridgestone Americas has promoted Stephen Brooks, former president, US, Canada and Monterrey Manufacturing Group (BAMG), to the newly created position of chief information officer, effective immediately.

In his new role, Brooks will oversee all information technology functions for the Bridgestone Americas family of companies and will report directly to CEO and President Gary Garfield.

Since joining the company-then Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.-in 1989, Brooks has held positions such as team leader, area manager, manager of scheduling and IE and division manager. In 1998, he was promoted to general manager, manufacturing, at the company's Aiken County manufacturing plant in Graniteville, South Carolina.

In 2000, Brooks accepted the position of plant manager at Aiken before being promoted again in 2002 to vice president, quality assurance, for Bridgestone Americas. In 2003 he was named vice president, manufacturing, a role he held until being promoted to his most recent position in 2008.

Assuming Brooks' responsibilities will be Barrett “Barry” Owens, who has been named vice president, manufacturing, BAMG, after previously serving as executive director, process engineering development.

Owens, who also joined Bridgestone in 1989, started with the Nashville-based tyre maker as a junior engineer at its Warren County, Tennessee, plant. He has served as Bridgestone's section and division manager of tech services; division manager of operations and IE, production control and engineering; and plant manager for the company's Oklahoma City manufacturing facility.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)