JOHN T. LAMPE NAMED CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.
Lampe Outlines Immediate Action
Plan
Nashville, Tenn. (October 10, 2000)
- Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. announced
today that John T. Lampe has been named chairman, chief executive
officer and president, succeeding Masatoshi Ono, who is returning
to Bridgestone Corp. after nearly ten years at its U.S. subsidiary.
"I want my first act as the new CEO to
be a sincere apology to those who have suffered personal losses
or who have had problems with Firestone tires," said Mr. Lampe.
"We can debate over cause and responsibility for there is much
that is not known. But that does not change the fact that there
have been tragic accidents, and for this I am deeply sorry."
Mr. Lampe announced an immediate action
plan that includes three primary initiatives:
- Accelerating the recall effort
- Assembling a new management team
- Creating new methods to examine product
performance data
With respect to the first initiative,
Mr. Lampe said, "We must complete the recall as quickly as possible
- that is our Number One priority." As of October 9, an estimated
3.7 million tires have been replaced out of the more than 6.5
million tires included in the recall announced on August 9.
Mr. Lampe said that the company has accelerated tire production
to respond to the recall. The company is continuing to airlift
tires from sister plants overseas and, as previously announced,
has made it possible for consumers to obtain replacement tires
from competitors.
Mr. Lampe said that the company expects
to complete the recall during November. He added that Bridgestone/Firestone
will "not rest until we have determined the root cause or causes
of the accidents, continuing to work with government agencies
and outside experts to ensure that a situation like this never
happens again."
Mr. Lampe also announced that he is assembling
a new management team. Isao Togashi, currently senior vice president
of tire production and product technology of Bridgestone Corp.
in Japan, will head manufacturing and development of the U.S.
subsidiary, reporting to Mr. Lampe. Mr. Togashi, 58, will also
be vice chairman of the board of directors. In his new management
role, Mr. Togashi will oversee three areas: manufacturing and
process controls; research and development; and quality-assurance
procedures.
"Mr. Togashi is exceptionally skilled
and will be a great asset to our team," said Mr. Lampe.
Mr. Lampe said that he will announce
additional management changes in the coming weeks.
Mr. Lampe's third action will focus on
creating new and innovative ways to collect and analyze important
performance data. "This experience has taught us that we need
to improve our performance data processes. It is also clear
that tire manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers must learn
about each other's businesses in order to produce the safest
and most reliable products possible. Gaining a complete understanding
of exactly how the vehicle and tires interact is extremely important."
In addition, Mr. Lampe said that Bridgestone/Firestone
strongly supports the goals of legislation pending before Congress
that are designed to address the issue of ensuring the collection
of better and more complete data that will be meaningful to
consumers, manufacturers and regulators.
"John has the full support of our management
team," said Yoichiro Kaizaki, chief executive officer of Bridgestone
Corp., the Tokyo-based parent company of Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc. "John is an experienced and highly respected executive
in our industry. More importantly, he cares deeply for this
company, its employees and its customers."
Mr. Kaizaki continued: "I would also
like to express our appreciation and thanks to Masatoshi Ono,
who has served as chief executive officer of Bridgestone/Firestone
for seven years. He contributed greatly to our growth in the
Americas. He leaves this position with the profound respect
of everyone he has worked with at Bridgestone/Firestone."
Mr. Lampe, 53, joined Bridgestone/Firestone
in 1973 as an international trainee in the tire maker's Cincinnati
operations. Since then, he has held a number of senior international
posts of increasing responsibility in Singapore, Denmark, Spain,
Costa Rica and Brazil. Mr. Lampe was president of the company's
former Dayton Tire Division in Oklahoma City, before his most
recent job as president of Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Sales
Co. and president of Bridgestone/Firestone Truck Tire Sales
Co. He was also executive vice president.
Mr. Ono, 63, has been with the company
for more than 41 years, having joined Bridgestone Tire Co.,
Ltd. (now Bridgestone Corp.) in 1959. During his career he held
a succession of jobs in production systems and manufacturing,
including having served as the plant manager at both the Hikone
and Kurume plants in Japan. He was elected to the board of Bridgestone
Corp. in 1987, and in 1991 came to the U.S. as executive vice
president of Manufacturing and Technology for Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc. He was later named President of the same organization in
1992 and became CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone in 1993. Since
1993 he has been chairman and chief executive officer of Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc., and executive vice president of Bridgestone Corp.
About Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest
tire and rubber company. Bridgestone/Firestone manufactures
and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and house and private
brand tires. The company also produces Firestone air springs,
roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial products.
The company employs 36,900 employees in the United States and
10,600 people in Canada and Latin America.
