Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has promoted several key executives as part of its management strategy. They include Dan King, vice president of sales and marketing, and Thomas Masuguchi controller.
King was promoted to senior vice president of sales and marketing.
“Dan has been highly instrumental in securing strong performances for Yokohama, including a record year in 2010,” says CEO and President Takao Oishi. “This promotion reflects Dan’s continued high level of performance, as well as his expanded role since the retirement of Jim MacMaster last year.” (MacMaster is Yokohama's former executive vice president and chief operating officer.)
Masuguchi adds the title of vice president to his controller responsibilities.
“Tom has done a tremendous job further improving Yokohama’s finances, and his advice and leadership has been invaluable to our success in recent years,” says Oishi.
Yokohama also announced six other promotions.
* John Cooney, from director of commercial sales to director of export. Cooney, who is credited by the company with building one of the most successful commercial sales groups in the industry, will develop Yokohama’s sales, operations and brand strategies for consumer and commercial export. Cooney will continue to report to King.
* Rick Phillips, from manager of commercial sales to director of commercial sales. Phillips, who will report to King, assumes the department’s reins from Cooney. “Rick has been a major part of the Commercial Division’s growth the last few years, and a key leader for Yokohama,” says King.
* Minoru (Mike) Nakayama, to chief advisor, corporate strategy and product planning. In this role, Nakayama will advise in the areas of corporate strategy, product planning for consumer tires and motorsports. Nakayama comes from Yokohama Asia Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of YTC’s parent company, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. He will replace Kenichi (Kenny) Shirai who returns to Yokohama Rubber on Jan. 14.
* Alan Easome, from manager, supply chain planning to director, supply chain planning. Easome, who will divide his time between Yokohama’s Fullerton headquarters and Salem, Va., consumer tire manufacturing plant, will oversee all activities related to supply chain operations. That includes forecasting, production planning, scheduling and finished goods inventory optimization. He will report to Jim Quinn, vice president of operations.
* Percy Cottle, from district sales manager, export to zone manager, export. Cottle will report to Cooney. “He has been central in establishing the Yokohama brand, both consumer and commercial, in our export markets,” says Cooney.
* Andrew Briggs, from account manager to senior manager of motorsports. Briggs will head up Yokohama’s motorsports department (now a separate unit). Briggs will report to King.
YTC services a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the United States. For more information on the company and its products, visit www.yokohamatire.com.
