Goodyear's Polhemus to retire, company names replacement

Nov. 20, 2002

John Polhemus, president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s North American Tire unit, will retire on Dec. 1.

He will be replaced by Jonathan D. Rich, who is currently the president of Goodyear's Chemical Division.

"I want to thank John Polhemus for his outstanding service to our company," Goodyear President Bob Keegan said in a prepared statement today.

Polhemus has worked for the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker in a variety of top-level capacities since 1969.

Rich, who joined Goodyear two years ago, helped turn around the company's Chemical Division by restructuring its operations, posting earnings and cash flow gains, and entering high-growth markets, according to Goodyear officials.

He previously spent 18 years at General Electric.