Mark Earl Will Lead Nokian's Growth Strategy in North America
Mark Earl is joining Nokian Tyres plc and will be in charge of implementing the tire company's growth strategy in North America. Earl, the current president of Hennessy Industries Inc., will serve as vice president of the Americas Business Area for Nokian. Earl will begin his new job May 1, 2018, and will report to the Hille Korhonen, CEO and president.
Nokian says Earl is charged with using the company's first North American production facility (construction is underway in Dayton, Tenn.) to grow distribution "and further build and strengthen the company’s North American organization."
Korhonen says, "We are delighted to get Mark into our team. He is energetic and result-oriented. Mark has a proven track record of growing business in a profitable way in North America. His experience will be a major asset to us, as we are aiming at doubling our sales within five years in North America."
Tommi Heinonen, the current vice president of Nokian's Americas business, will continue to lead the sales effort in the region and will report to Earl.
In addition to the appointment in the Americas, Nokian has named Päivi Antola to the Nokian management team as vice president of investor relations and corporate communications beginning, at the latest, in June 2018.
Antola is joining Nokian after eight years at Amer Sports Corp. as head of corporate communications and investor relations. Antola will report to Korhonen.