Goodyear personnel shifts continue

Aug. 28, 2003

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced more high-level management changes.

Richard J. Kramer, current vice president of finance for Goodyear's North American Tire unit, has been named the company's senior vice president, strategic planning and restructuring.

He will report to Goodyear Chairman and CEO Bob Keegan.

Thomas A. Connell, former vice president and corporate controller for TRW Inc., joins Goodyear on Sept. 1 as vice president and controller.

"His knowledge of both technical and operational accounting as well as financial analysis will be important as our corporate financial team further aligns itself to support Goodyear's turnaround," says Stephanie Bergeron, Goodyear's senior vice president, corporate financial operations, to whom Connell will report.

Michael Rajkovic, currently director of exterior products manufacturing and direct ship operations for Visteon Corp., also joins Goodyear on Sept. 1 as vice president of finance for the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker's North American Tire unit. He will report to Robert Tieken, Goodyear's executive vice president and CFO, and Jonathan Rich, president of North American Tire.

"Mike's operational, manufacturing and financial background, as well as his experience in several turnaround situations, will be valuable as we return North American Tire to profitability," says Tieken.

Vincent Ciccolini has been named Goodyear's director of auditing, effective Sept. 1. Ciccolini, who also will report to Tieken, has been Goodyear's director of corporate reporting since September 2002. He replaces David Dixon, who has left the company.

Yesterday, mtdealer.com learned that Wingfoot Commercial Tire Systems LLC President Steve McClellan will replace Ted Fick as vice president of Goodyear's Commercial Division, effective next week.