Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) has reorganized the marketing and sales departments of its Consumer Replacement Tire business unit. The new assignments will take effect Jan. 1, 2006.
Phil Pacsi will be assuming additional responsibilities as executive director of North American consumer tire marketing. Specifically, in addition to Pacsi's current responsibility for consumer brand marketing, he will assume oversight of consumer tire strategic planning and forecasting, consumer channel marketing, motorsports and Canadian consumer tire marketing.
Pacsi's promotion follows the departure of Hiro Yoshimori, who is returning to Japan to accept the position of president of Bridgestone Tire Hokuriku Sales Corp., a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corp. Pacsi will report to John Gamauf, president, consumer replacement tires, BFNT.
In order to provide additional marketing support to the business unit, the company announced the following promotions:
* Kaz Ota has been named director, strategic planning and marketing support. He will report to Pacsi.
* Michael Sigillito, currently director of Canadian consumer tire marketing, will relocate to Nashville and take on additional concurrent responsibilities as director, channel/product marketing. He will report to Pacsi.
BFNT also announced changes in its consumer tire sales group. Tim Dunn, currently national operations manager, has been promoted to the newly established position of director, national marketing operations and supply chain management.
In his new position, Dunn will continue to be responsible for customer service and sales programs, but will carry additional responsibility for implementing marketing programs at the grassroots sales level and coordinating activities and enhancing communication with the company's supply planning and sourcing group. He will report to Gamauf.
Due to the planned retirement of 36-year company veteran Jerry Cash, national director of business development, in early 2006, BFNT has announced the reassignment of his duties.
John Baratta, director of consumer tires -- retail, will assume sales responsibility for consumer tire replacement sales in Canada in addition to his current responsibilities for the North and South consumer tire sales regions and consumer tire corporate accounts.
Barry Feasel, general manager, family retailers, will assume additional responsibilities for sales to TiresPlus stores, which are owned by BFS Retail & Commercial Operations LLC, BFNT's sister company. In addition, all aspects of BFNT's TireStarz program will be consolidated in Feasel's area. Baratta and Feasel will continue to report to Gamauf.
