Pirelli Tire North America Inc. has appointed Rafael Navarro III to the newly formed post of vice president of communications and media relations. In his new position, Navarro is responsible for all internal and external communications for Pirelli in the NAFTA region (United States, Canada and Mexico).
He will integrate public relations, and will work closely with the marketing and motorsports departments of all three country offices, overseeing brand activity. Additionally, he will continue to manage "key influencer relationships" in the region.
Most recently, Navarro was director of media relations, advertising and motorsports. He joined the company in 2006, and developed key tuning and influencer relationships for the company as senior business development manager. He also has been in charge of the celebrity partnership/spokespersons program -- a role that will continue in his new position.
During his tenure at Pirelli, Navarro has signed partnership agreements with automotive designer and TV personality Chip Foose, "DUB Magazine" publisher and television personality Myles Kovacs and American rally driver and Gymkhana legend Ken Block, among many others.
Navarro is not the only Pirelli executive to receive new orders. Marco Zambianchi, who joined the U.S.-based Pirelli team at the beginning of this year, will increase his responsibility in the car division to include pricing, product and demand planning for the NAFTA region as vice president of marketing operations, planning and key accounts.
Mattia Bussacchini has been appointed general manager of Canadian operations for the NAFTA region. He has been working closely with logistics and demand planning for Canada and the U.S. the last few years, and will continue to support Pirelli’s factory project in Mexico in his new role, directly reporting to new PTNA CEO and President Matteo Battaini.
For more information on Pirelli Tire North America and its products, visit www.us.pirelli.com.
