Richard Noechel, vice president of finance for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s North American Tire business unit, has been elected vice president and controller. He will succeed Thomas Connell, who plans to retire next year.
Noechel's election and Connell's retirement will not be the only major changes in the company's financial department.
Laura Thompson, currently vice president of business development, has been elected vice president of finance for North American Tire. She will succeed Noechel.
David Campopiano, currently senior director of business development, will be promoted to vice president of business development, succeeding Thompson.
All the changes will take effect on March 1, 2011.
Connell "provided sound judgment and strong process discipline that has contributed enormously to Goodyear's financial business processes, while also building our finance team globally," says Darren Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Connell joined Goodyear as vice president and controller in 2003, after working 24 years in financial management positions at TRW Inc.
Noechel began his career at Goodyear in 2004 as assistant controller. Two years later, he became chief financial officer of the company's South Pacific Tyre subsidiary in Australia before returning to Akron in 2008. He was vice president and controller of Goodyear from March 2008 to December 2008, before assuming his role as vice president of finance for North American Tire.
Prior to joining Goodyear, Noechel was vice president and controller for The Kmart Corp. from 2001 through 2004. He also worked for DaimlerChrysler in various positions and for Price Waterhouse LLP.
"Rick brings both a strong technical background and a depth of business knowledge to the role, having been part of both Goodyear's North American and Asian businesses," says Wells.
Thompson was appointed vice president of business development in 2005. She began her Goodyear career in 1983 and served in various financial and accounting positions, both in business units and corporate staff.
Campopiano has been senior director of business development since 2008, and was director of business development from 2005 to 2008. Prior to joining Goodyear, he spent 15 years at Ferro Corp., including a period as vice president of mergers and acquisitions.
For more information about Goodyear and its products, visit www.goodyear.com.
