News - 2019

Senior Management Changes

2019/08/23

Tokyo (August 23, 2019) - As Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) continues to focus on its management priority areas of cultivating a global corporate culture, developing talent capable of global management and upgrading its global management structure, the company is pleased to announce several global leadership changes, effective September 16, 2019.

The following changes in Bridgestone Executive Officers and Corporate Officers will help further define and streamline global roles and responsibilities while providing focus for the company's growth agenda. The changes that are primarily being made are: •Expanding the Global Head Office (GHO) with new roles designed to strengthen, integrate and execute significant global strategies across SBUs and the enterprise portfolio •Creating a new SBU, "BSJP," that reorganizes the tire business and Diversified Business for Japan. This new structure creates an analogous management structure in Japan that matches the company's other regions and facilitates a more customer-centric operating model that allows for the acceleration of business transformation •Unlocking the full potential of the company's global solutions businesses and enhancing its Tire and Diversified Products as a Solution (Bridgestone T&DPaaS) strategy by creating dedicated focus on the most advanced solutions businesses in the Group These changes include membership changes to the Global Executive Committee (G-EXCO) as well as abbreviation of the global officer title (G-Chief).

1.Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Executive Officers
(Effective September 16, 2019)

Name	New *Primary changes: bold and underlined	Former
Akihiro ETO	Member of the Board President COO and Representative Executive Officer(G-COO) Concurrently responsible for BSJP G-EXCO Member	Member of the Board President COO and Representative Executive Officer G-EXCO Member
Shuichi ISHIBASHI	Vice Chair and Representative Executive Officer, G-Chief Solution Officer (G-CSLO) Responsible for G Solution Strategy; Concurrently responsible for G Original Equipment and Bridgestone T&DPaaS Strategy G-EXCO Member	Vice Chair and Representative Executive Officer Responsible for GBS (Global Business Support); Concurrently responsible for Technology and Quality Management; Concurrently responsible for Global Original Equipment and Marketing Strategy; Concurrently responsible for Olympics·Paralympics, Sports·Cycle & Active Healthy Lifestyle; Concurrently responsible for GSCM (Global Supply Chain Management); Concurrently Chairman of Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.; Concurrently Chairman of Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd. G-EXCO Member
Gordon KNAPP	Vice Chair and Executive Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Member of the Board, CEO and President, COO of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member	Vice Chair and Executive Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Member of the Board, CEO and President of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member
Paolo FERRARI	Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, G-Chief Digital Strategic Officer (G-CDSO) of Bridgestone Corporation Responsible for G Digital Strategy Member of the Board, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA Chairman of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member	Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Member of the Board, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA Chairman of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member
Christine KARBOWIAK	Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, G-Chief Sustainability Officer (G-CSTO) of Bridgestone Corporation Responsible for G Public Relations, Government Relations and Sustainability Vice Chair, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member	Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Responsible for Global Public Relations, Government Relations and Sustainability Vice Chair, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member
Masahiro HIGASHI	Senior Vice President and Executive Officer Responsible for G-MAA (Mining, Aircraft, Agriculture) Solutions and GBE (Global Business Enhancement) G-EXCO Member	Senior Vice President and Executive Officer Responsible for MAA (Mining, Aircraft, Agriculture) & Diversified Products Solutions Business G-EXCO Member

2. New Members of Corporate Officers
(Effective September 16, 2019)

Name	New	Former
Tomoyuki TAKAGI	Vice President and Officer G Original Equipment and Bridgestone T&DPaaS Planning; Concurrently Director, G Products Strategy Division	Director, Global Original Equipment, Advanced Products Strategy Division
Hitoshi YAJIMA	Vice President and Officer Japan Tire Production; Concurrently Director, Japan Tire Production Division	Director, Japan Tire Production Division

3. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Corporate Officers
(Effective September 16, 2019)

Name	New *Primary changes: bold and underlined	Former
Thomas HIGGINS	Vice President and Senior Officer, G-Chief Business Strategic Officer (G-CBSO) of Bridgestone Corporation Responsible for G Business Strategy Member of the Board, Group President, Americas Tire of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member	Vice President and Senior Officer, Chief Strategic Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Responsible for Global Strategy President, US & Canada Consumer Tire Sales Division of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Chairman of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA G-EXCO Member
Yoshihiko ICHIKAWA	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for G Original Equipment and Bridgestone T&DPaaS Planning	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Global Original Equipment Strategy Global Original Equipment Strategy
Yuzo SHISEKI	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Tire Development, Production Technology Development Tire Production Technology Development	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Tire Development, Production Technology Development
Tomohiro KUSANO	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for G-MAA (Mining, Aircraft, Agriculture) Solutions Business	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Diversified Products Solutions Business
Bill THOMPSON	Vice President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Responsible for Business Transformation Initiative	Vice President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Member of the Board, Chief Operating Officer of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member
Christopher NICASTRO	Vice President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Chairman of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA	Vice President and Senior Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Member of the Board of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA
Kenji YAMASAKI	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Manufacturing and Production Engineering Tire Manufacturing and Production Engineering	Vice President and Officer Tire Production Technology Development
Masahito TSUJI	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Diversified Products Solutions Business G-EXCO Member	Vice President and Officer Diversified Products Administration and Business Reorganization; Concurrently Director, Diversified Products Business Reorganization Division
Yuji MOCHIZUKI	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Japan Tire Production Japan Tire Quality Management and CQO	Vice President and Officer Japan Tire Production
Makoto HASHIMOTO	Vice President and Senior Officer Seconded to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA Vice Chair of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA	Vice President and Officer Seconded to Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
Yukihiko HOSO	Vice President and Officer Seconded to Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Advisor, Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Production Engineering
Naohisa YODA	Vice President and Officer Seconded to Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.	Vice President and Senior Officer Responsible for Supply Chain Enhancement Tire Operation Management and Service; Concurrently Director, Supply Chain Enhancement Business Planning and Administration Division
Masayuki ISHII	Vice President and Officer, Corporate Planning and Administration Chief Risk Officer, Corporate Governance, Human Resources and General Affairs; Concurrently Director, Corporate Planning Division, Corporate Governance Division	Vice President and Officer, Corporate Planning Chief Risk Officer, Chief Human Rights Officer Human Resources and General Affairs Concurrently Director, Corporate Planning Division
Yuichi NAKADA	Vice President and Officer G-SCM and International Administration; Concurrently Director, International Administration Division	Vice President and Officer Japan Tire SBU Business Planning; Concurrently Japan Tire Quality Management and CQO
Keita IDE	Vice President and Officer Japan Tire Business Planning, Original Equipment Tire Sales Japan Concurrently Director, O.E. Tire Sales Japan Division Ⅰ; Concurrently Assistant to Vice President and Officer, G Original Equipment and Bridgestone T&DPaaS Planning	Vice President and Officer Original Equipment Tire Sales Japan; Concurrently Director, O.E. Tire Sales Japan Division Ⅰ; Concurrently Assistant to Vice President and Officer, Global Original Equipment Strategy
Teruo KUNITAKE	Vice President and Officer Seconded to Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Center Co., Ltd.	Vice President and Officer Production Engineering
Junya ONO	Vice President and Officer Diversified Products Administration and Business Reorganization; Concurrently Director, Diversified Products Business Reorganization Division	Vice President and Officer Assistant to Vice President and Officer, Diversified Products Administration and Business Reorganization
Mitsuhira SHIMAZAKI	Vice President and Officer G Brand Strategy and OPSCA(Olympics·Paralympics, Sports·Cycle & Active Healthy Lifestyle)	Vice President and Officer Olympics·Paralympics, Sports·Cycle & Active Healthy Lifestyle
Scott DAMON	Vice President and Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Member of the Board, Group President, Operations of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. G-EXCO Member	Vice President and Officer of Bridgestone Corporation President, Commercial Group, U.S. and Canada of Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Laurent DARTOUX	Vice President and Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Member of the Board, COO of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA G-EXCO Member	Vice President and Officer of Bridgestone Corporation Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA

Reference Information

1.Organization as of September 16, 2019 (PDF,111KB)

2.Member of Global Executive Committee (Global EXCO)* As of September 16, 2019

*Primary changes: bold and underlined

Name	Assignment and Important concurrent position
Masaaki Tsuya, CEO and Representative Exec.Officer	G-CEO
Akihiro Eto, President COO and Representative Exec.Officer	G-COO
Shuichi Ishibashi, Vice Chair and Representative Exec.Officer	G-Chief Solution Officer (G-CSLO) Responsible for G Solution Strategy
Gordon Knapp, Vice Chair and Exec.Officer	CEO and President, COO of Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Paolo Ferrari, EVP and Exec.Officer	G-Chief Digital Strategic Officer (G-CDSO) Responsible for G Digital Strategy CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA
Christine Karbowiak, EVP and Exec.Officer	G-Chief Sustainability Officer (G-CSTO) Responsible for G Public Relations, Governrnent Relations and Sustainability, Vice Chair of Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Masato Banno, SVP and Exec.Officer	G-Chief Technical Officer (G-CTO) Responsible for Technology and Quality Management
Masahiro Higashi, SVP and Exec.Officer	G-MAA (Mining, Aircraft, Agriculture) Solutions and GBE(Global Business Enhancement)
Thomas Higgins, VP and Senior Officer	G-Chief Business Strategic Officer (G-CBSO) Responsible for G Business Strategy, Group President, Americas Tire of Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Masahiro Isobe, VP and Senior Officer	Responsible for Japan Tire Business
Gabriel Asbun, VP and Senior Officer	CEO and COO of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd
Scott Damon, VP and Officer	Group President, Operations of Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Laurent Dartoux, VP and Officer	COO of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA
Masahito Tsuji, VP and Senior Officer	Responsible for Diversified Products Solutions Business

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About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.