Bridgestone/Firestone’s Ishibashi Accepts Bridgestone Assignment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 6, 2002) – Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BFAH) today announced that Shu Ishibashi, president, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Consumer Tire Group and an executive vice president of BFAH, will be accepting a new assignment with Bridgestone Corporation’s domestic replacement tire sales group in Japan. Ishibashi, 48, will assume his new role as one of Bridgestone’s youngest directors on January 1, 2003.

“Shu and his team have designed and implemented some of the most innovative and successful marketing strategies in the business,” said Mark Emkes, CEO, chairman and president of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). “Over these past 14 years Shu’s creativity and energy have strengthened our company and our brands, and I know he will achieve great success in his new position in Japan.”

Ishibashi has been a key contributor to Bridgestone/Firestone’s success since 1988 when he first came to the U.S. as a member of the Firestone Merger Project. Ishibashi joined the marketing staff of Bridgestone/Firestone’s retail division in 1989 and quickly climbed through the ranks to his current position as president of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Consumer Tire Group and executive vice president of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc.

Ishibashi said he’ll miss his many friends at Bridgestone/Firestone but is looking forward to taking on a new challenge.

“I’ve enjoyed my years in the United States and I’m proud of the success our team has achieved in building the Bridgestone brand, strengthening our relationships with our loyal dealers, and most recently rebuilding the Firestone brand” Ishibashi said. “But I’m looking forward to the task ahead and working with our team in Japan to energize our retail marketing efforts and to continue to grow our consumer and commercial tire sales.”

With this new position, Ishibashi will be responsible for designing and implementing marketing plans and programs for commercial and consumer replacement tires in Japan where the Bridgestone brand is the clear leader in both market segments. Ishibashi will also be responsible for developing and implementing the Bridgestone company store marketing programs throughout Japan.

For the time being, Emkes will oversee Ishibashi’s areas of responsibility at BFNT. Ishibashi joined Bridgestone Corporation in 1977. In his 25 years with the company, he has held a series of key marketing and planning positions. Ishibashi graduated from Shizuoka University in 1977 with a law degree.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BFAH) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFAH, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand 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 service centers.