More on Emkes' successors at BSAM

Feb. 12, 2010

When Mark Emkes, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSAM) retires, his office will be split into three positions: chairman, which will be filled by Asahiko "Duke" Nishiyama, and CEO and president, which will be filled by Gary Garfield.

Nishiyama currently serves as chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (BATO). He was promoted to that post in 2008, after serving as vice chairman of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. since 2005.

Nishiyama joined Bridgestone Tire Co. Ltd. in 1977. In 1985, he was appointed executive committee member of the Bridgestone Workers' Union, and in 1991, assumed the position of union president. From there, he joined Bridgestone's human resource department, where he served as manager before moving to the U.S. in 1997.

That year, he became director of business planning for Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. In 2001, he returned to Japan as general manager of human resources for Bridgestone Corp.

Garfield currently serves as vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary for Bridgestone Americas Inc. He is reponsible for overseeing the company's legal and compliance functions.

He joined Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. in 1991. Through 2002, he served as senior counsel I, senior counsel II and division general counsel for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT). In 2002, he was promoted to vice president and general counsel of BFNT.

Emkes will officially retire from BSAM on Feb. 28. Nishiyama and Garfield will assume their new positions on March 1.