Nashville, Tenn., USA - July 28, 2016, Nashville, Tenn., USA - Bridgestone Americas, Inc. announced the retirement of its CEO, president and executive chairman Gary Garfield, effective December 31, 2016.
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Mr. Garfield initially joined Bridgestone Americas in the legal department in 1991, eventually rising to the position of Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary of Bridgestone Americas.
In March 2010, he was promoted to Bridgestone Americas’ CEO and President, and in January 2016 he was named as Executive Chairman of Bridgestone Americas.
Over the last years, he also was promoted to a series of executive positions within Bridgestone Corporation, ultimately culminating in the position of Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Americas’ parent company, Bridgestone Corporation.
Mr. Garfield will remain as an advisor to the company and the new leadership team until year-end.
He also will retire from his position as Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Bridgestone Americas’ parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, effective August 31.
In order to effect a smooth transition to the company’s new leadership team, Bridgestone Americas has announced that Gordon Knapp, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, will become Bridgestone Americas’ President and CEO on September 1, 2016.
Mr. Knapp has spent his career – both in the U.S. and internationally – in the consumer products area leading the operations of many of the world’s foremost brands.
Prior to Bridgestone Americas, Mr. Knapp served as President, Family Care North Atlantic, Consumer Tissue Division for Kimberly-Clark.
He also has held leadership positions in the consumer products businesses for Pfizer, Inc. and for Warner-Lambert, Inc.
William Thompson, the company’s current Chief Financial Officer will succeed Mr. Knapp as COO on that date.
Mr. Thompson served as West Zone Manager for U.S. Commercial Tire Sales in 2011 and was named Bridgestone Americas Controller in 2012.
Prior to being named CFO in May 2014, he served as Vice President of Finance for Bridgestone Americas.
He has broad experience within the company, having held positions in the retail, manufacturing, sales and corporate groups.
He joined the company in 1996.
Eduardo Minardi, Executive Chairman at Bridgestone Americas’ sister company, Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, Africa (BSEMEA), will serve concurrently as Chairman of the Bridgestone Americas Board of Directors.
Mr. Minardi will maintain his current role in Brussels, Belgium, which he assumed approximately two and half years ago.
He also currently serves as an Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Corporation as well as on the Bridgestone Americas Board of Directors, a position he has held for more than six years. ■