As part of a restructuring of Bridgestone's Americas tire operations, the head of Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions adds responsibilities as president, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division.


Bridgestone Americas Holding announced a restructuring of its Americas tire operations effective Jan. 1, 2009. Asahiko "Duke" Nishiyama will lead the new unit, which will be named Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). Reporting into this unit will be the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. Nishiyama will continue to report to Mark A. Emkes, Chairman, CEO and President, BSAH.

Saul A. Solomon, currently president, Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, under the new structure will serve as president, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division. Reporting to Solomon will be:
* Kenneth L. Allen, President, Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division;
* Shawn Rasey, President, Off the Road Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division; and
* Scott Gateley, General Manager, Tube Business, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division.

In the new alignment, Solomon will serve concurrently as president, BBTS (his current position), and his existing BBTS reporting relationships will remain in place.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire also announced two promotions at Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions. Doyle Bradford, director of strategic channels, will be promoted to vice president, sales, effective immediately. Tim Chen, vice president, innovation, will become vice president, marketing, effective Nov. 1.

Bradford joined then-Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. in April 1990 as a territory manager for Western North Carolina. He has held the positions of regional fleet manager, district manager, region general manager and director of strategic channels. BBTS teammates who reported to Bradford in his former position as director of strategic channels will continue to report to Bradford, who will remain located in Nashville, Tenn. Bradford replaces Art Campagnoni.

Chen started his career at then-Bandag in 1991. After holding various positions in both sales and marketing, Chen was promoted to director of marketing; vice president, marketing; and vice president, innovation.

Bradford and Chen will report to Kurt Danielson, vice president, sales and marketing for BBTS, when Danielson assumes that role on Nov. 1.