Former Yokohama Executive Jim MacMaster Dies

June 16, 2022

Jim MacMaster, former executive vice president and chief operating officer of Yokohama Tire Corp., recently died at the age of 75.

MacMaster began his tire industry career 51 years ago and joined Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) in 1981. During his tenure, the company grew its annual sales from $30 million to nearly $1 billion.

Upon his retirement in June 2010, MacMaster told MTD that his proudest achievement at Yokohama "was the acquisition and expansion of our Salem, Va., facility in 1989." (The plant produces passenger and light truck tires.)

"The flexible architecture of the plant lets us build an array of types and sizes of tires, which adds to Yokohama Tire Corp.'s competitiveness in the North American marketplace."

"Jim has held nearly every leadership position at YTC, where he has been the foundation and face of our company," then-YTC CEO and President Takeo Oishi said after MacMaster retired. "We are proud to have been associated with Jim and honored that he chose to be part of the Yokohama family for so many years."

MacMaster also served as chairman of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, now known as the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, from 2007 through 2009.

“We are saddened by the news of Jim’s passing," says Andrew Briggs, Yokohama’s vice president of marketing, who worked under MacMaster. "He was a great leader, friend and mentor to many in the industry. 

“On behalf of everybody at Yokohama, we are proud and honored to have worked with Jim.  Our sincerest condolences go out to his wife Teri, their children and grandchildren. Jim was an inspiration and will be sorely missed.”

Visitation for MacMaster will take place on June 19 at 3 p.m. EDT at Little & Davenport Funeral Home in Gainesville, Ga. Funeral services will take place at 4 p.m. that day. A link to his obituary can be found here.