Goodyear hires Smytka as vice president in Asia

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has appointed Daniel Smytka vice president of Goodyear Asia Pacific's Consumer Product Business Unit. Smytka will be responsible for overseeing all Goodyear consumer tire products and services throughout the region.

"Dan brings extensive leadership skills, knowledge of Asia, an in-depth knowledge of consumer and B2B business, and an impressive track record of business successes to the team," says Pierre Cohade, president of Goodyear Asia Pacific.

Prior to joining the company, Smytka was the president of the Building Systems & Services division of Carrier Corp. in the United States. Carrier Corp. had combined sales of $2 billion in 2007. He previously worked as a company officer and vice president at General Electric Co., where he served as CEO and president of the Engineered Systems Division.

Smytka also served as CEO and president of GE's Consumer and Industrial Group in the Asia Pacific region.

"Goodyear Asia Pacific has already achieved 14 consecutive quarters of year-on-year sales growth through Q2 2008," says Smytka, who works from the company's headquarters in Shanghai, China. "It is my goal to build on this positive momentum...."