John Lawrence has replaced Richard Steichen as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s vice president of corporate research.
Steichen retired at the beginning of the year.
Lawrence, a 31-year Goodyear veteran, has held a variety of technical positions with the company both in the United States and in Europe.
Most recently, he served as the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker's director of applied physics and tire mechanics.
Lawrence will report to Joe Gingo, Goodyear's senior vice president for technology and global products planning.