Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Inc. (BFAH) has promoted Jorge Gonzalez to executive vice president.
Gonzalez, formerly president of the company’s Mexican subsidiary, also has been appointed president of Bridgestone/Firestone Latin American Tire Operations (BFLA). Based in Nashville, Tenn., BFLA is comprised of the company’s six Latin American subsidiaries.
Gonzalez succeeds Mark Emkes, who was recently named chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC.
Gonzalez, 54, a native of Cuba, graduated from the University of Akron (Ohio) in 1971 with a Bachelors degree in accounting. He has been with the company for 34 years.
"I have enjoyed my time in Mexico and in all my international assignments and I will miss the hands-on, day-to-day responsibility of running a business," says Gonzalez.
"However, I look forward to continuing and building on the strategy that has been developed to address the needs of each of the six local tire markets that comprise BFLA while balancing our company’s global tire supply requirements."
