Bridgestone rejigs global management set-up

Tokyo – Bridgestone Corp. is appointing two joint global chief operating officers (COOs) reporting to global CEO Shu Ishibashi, with effect from 1 May.

One of the global COO appointees is Paolo Ferrari, head of global solution strategy and head of BSAM Business, Bridgestone announced in a 19 April release.

“He will continue to lead the global solutions business strategy and expand his responsibilities to include the BSEMIA business,” the Japanese group explained.

Ferrari’s remit includes developing “synergies from the mature premium tire and solutions businesses in the Americas and Europe,” the statement noted.

The other appointee is Masahiro Higashi, currently responsible for Bridgestone’s global mining and aircraft tire business, its Japanese tire business and Japanese diversified products business.

Higashi “will continue to lead Bridgestone's global sustainability strategy and expand his responsibilities to include the BSCAP business, which is expected to generate synergies in Japan and Asia market.”

“In anticipation of a series of turbulent events such as the situation in Russia and Ukraine, it is imperative to further strengthen our global management structure,” said Bridgestone.

The group added that it needs “more flexible and agile” [leadership] oriented toward global optimisation”, to achieve the goals of its mid-term business plan, to 2023.

Bridgestone has been working on corporate transformation for the past two years since the start of its current strategic business plan, launched in 2020.