Nashville, Tenn. (February 22, 2002)-
Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding,
Inc. (BFAH) today announced that Isao Togashi, currently Vice
Chairman of BFAH and President of Bridgestone/Firestone North
American Tire, LLC (BFNT) will be resigning his positions at
the Nashville-based companies in late March to accept an assignment
with Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ) of Tokyo, parent company
of BFAH. Togashi, 60, will serve as Bridgestone Corporation’s
Executive Vice President, Manufacturing and Technology. Succeeding
Togashi as BFAH Vice Chairman will be Yasuyoshi (“Yas”)
Kawaguchi, who will also serve as President, Manufacturing and
Technology Operations in BFNT. John Lampe, CEO, Chairman and
President of BFAH and Chairman of BFNT will assume additional
responsibilities as President of BFNT.
Speaking of Togashi, Lampe said, "Isao
Togashi was here for Bridgestone/Firestone when the company,
and I, needed him most. He has been a tremendous help to me
as we have worked to rebuild this company and I will always
be grateful to him for his advice, his advocacy on behalf of
Bridgestone/Firestone and his sense of humor. His new position
with Bridgestone Corporation is a significant opportunity and
honor for him and I wish him all the best in his new and important
role."
Kawaguchi, 57, who graduated from Osaka Kyoiku
University with a bachelors degree in chemistry, began his career
with BSJ in 1970 as a tire compounder. He has served in positions
of increasing responsibility in the tire materials and development
side of the business, including Manager, Off the Road Tire Development;
General Manager, Tire Process Technology Development; and Director,
Tire Material Development Division. His most recent position
with BSJ was Vice President, Tire Manufacturing Technology.
In his new position with BFNT, Kawaguchi will have responsibility
for the research, product development and manufacturing aspects
of Bridgestone/Firestone's tire business.
"We are extremely fortunate to have an
executive of Yas' experience and business acumen joining us
during our critical rebuilding period," said Lampe. "His
career has focused on tire materials and technology development,
areas that are of special interest to us as we develop new and
enhanced technologies and tire designs to meet and exceed the
expected standards of the TREAD Act. His experience as a plant
manager in the Tochigi plant will also be a significant asset
in his new responsibilities."
Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone Americas
Holding, Inc. is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the
world's largest tire and rubber company. BFAH, through its subsidiaries,
develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of tires to
address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers,
automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers
and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries.
The companies also produce Firestone air springs, roofing materials,
synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles and operate
the world's largest chain of automotive tire and services centers.
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, a subsidiary
of BFAH, develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone,
Dayton and private and associate brand tires. The company is
focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying
passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agriculture
and other tires to its customers in North America.
