Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has announced five key appointments to its sales and marketing team.
Phil Kortokrax moves into the newly created position of vice president, dealer channel sales, and will be responsible for realigning the sales and marketing team with a channel and market-facing focus. Currently the general manager of Cooper's Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Kortokrax started his career with Cooper in 1990 and has worked in computer programming, production management, and as director of internal audit.
Adam Zickert has accepted the position of director, wholesale channel. Zickert joined Cooper in 2005 as Great Lakes regional sales manager and most recently worked as business development manager for the North Central region.
Gary Schroeder will be the new director, independent and regional retailer channel. Previously, Schroeder worked as director of market development, as director of credit and as director of financial planning and analysis. He joined Cooper in 2002 as the global director of cost and reporting.
John Kairys has accepted the newly created position of director, national retailer sales, responsible for advancing the Cooper brand with national retailers in the North American market. A Cooper employee since 1999, Kairys previously worked as a business development manager, sales manager for the regional retail division and, most recently, as senior account executive, private brands.
Steve Sawyer will be promoted to the position of director, marketing operations, responsible for aligning the pricing, program, market analysis and customer service areas. Most recently the director of customer marketing, Sawyer has been a Cooper employee since 1985. Sawyer transferred in 2003 to the Findlay office from Cooper-Avon headquarters in Melksham, England.
