Nokian appoints Susanna Tusa as Romania tire project lead

Nokia, Finland - Nokian Tyres plc has appointed Susanna Tusa as general director and VP of Romania operations, effective 1 Sept.

She will also lead the Romania factory project, currently under way in Oradea, near the Hungarian border, Nokian announced 28 Sept.

Tusa joined Nokian in 2008 and has served in various capacities, including group general counsel, as well as head of global supply chain purchases.

Since 2022, she has been responsible for initiating the passenger car tire contract manufacturing including partner selection and handling the agreement negotiations.

As the general director of Romania operations and lead of the Romania factory project, her responsibilities will include establishing Nokian Tyres’ operations in the country.

To be based in Oradea, Tusa will also lead the local management group and the factory building project.

Nokian Tyres broke ground for what has been claimed as “the world’s first zero CO2 emission tire factory” in of Oradea in May.

Scheduled for first tires in the second half of next year, the €650-million factory is set to start commercial production in 2025 and employ 550 at full capacity.

The factory will have the annual capacity to produce 6 million tires, with expansion potential in the future.

The plant will concentrate on the production of larger rim size passenger car and SUV tires that will be primarily sold in the Central European market.

In its statement 28 Sept, Nokian said it has started a recruitment round in Oradea and in the surrounding Bihor County area, with focus on white collar employees at this stage.

The recruitment campaign for production staff will begin in the first half of 2024, it added.