Chris Ostrander Joins Nokian as SVP
Chris Ostrander has joined Nokian Tyres Inc. as the senior vice president of North America as of September 1. He had been a member of the Nokian board of directors since 2021.
The former president of the Americas for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Ostrander has almost three decades of leadership experience in the tire, automotive, heavy duty and aftermarket industries.
Ostrander also will serve as a member of Nokian's global management team.
He replaces Lauri Halme, who now serves as senior vice president of Nokian’s Vianor business unit. Halme remains a member of the global management team as well.
“Chris has deep knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing Nokian Tyres, because he has helped guide the company as a member of our Board of Directors,” says Nokian Tyres President and CEO Paolo Pompei. “We are eager for him to use his expertise and energy to help our North American operations continue to grow. We also thank Lauri for his excellent leadership, which will continue in this new capacity.”
Before his leadership role at Cooper Tire from 2011 to 2015, Ostrander worked at Eaton Corp. where he ran sales for the commercial vehicle and aftermarket group. After he left Cooper, he joined AP Exhaust Companies.
“The tire industry is a family, and I look forward to diving back into it to deepen the relationships Nokian Tyres has developed over the years, while fostering new ones as we focus our growth efforts on this critical market,” says Ostrander. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as a member of Nokian Tyres’ Board, and given my previous tire industry experience, I am excited to lead the vital North American market where my leadership can have a more direct impact on the results of Nokian Tyres.”
Ostrander is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in engineering management from Missouri Science & Technology.