Bridgestone appoints new China general manager

Shanghai, China – Bridgestone (China) Investment Co. has named Zhao Laihong as its general manager, effective 1 Jan 2025.

Zhao Laihong will be based in Shanghai and take full charge of Bridgestone's business development and strategic planning in China, said the Japanese group 25 Sept.

He will replace general manager, Augustine Pedroni who will be transferred to the position of managing director of Bridgestone Group and president of Bridgestone Asia Pacific, India and China, the statement added.

Zhao Laihong joined Bridgestone China in 2019 as director of supply chain management.

In that role, Bridgestone said, he “led and implemented the supply chain business reform, significantly improving operational efficiency and flexible responsiveness.”

Prior to joining Bridgestone, Zhao Laihong held key positions in companies such as Mars Food, Starbucks Coffee, Nokia China, Goodyear Tire, and Sherwin-Williams Paint.

Upon his appointment, Zhao Laihong said Bridgestone was “optimistic” about the development prospects of China's high-end passenger car market.

The group, he said, will continue to focus on developing its competitiveness in the sub-segment.

Bridgestone recently restructured its Chinese operations, exiting the Chinese truck and bus segment in the first half of the year. (ERJ report)

It also announced a series of investments at its production facilities in China over the next three years to be able to “better meet” the requirements of the market. (ERJ report)