Bridgestone Appoints Shuichi Ishibashi as CEO

Posted By: The editoron: Tuesday, January 7, 2020In: Tires

Bridgestone has announced that it has appointed Shuichi Ishibashi as the company’s new global CEO. He previously served as executive vice president and executive officer and has held several global leadership positions related to diversified products, original equipment business, solutions business, CSR, business strategy, sports and cycle business, and mining and agricultural solutions business.

While announcing Ishibashi’s appointment, Bridgestone said in a regulatory filing that it would be subject to approval at a Board of Directors meeting that would be held after the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in March 2020.

Ishibashi will take over as the global CEO from Masaaki Tsuya who joined Bridgestone in 1976 in the firm’s international relations area.

Ishibashi is a Bridgestone veteran who has been with the company from 1977, and has significant experience related to all of the tire and diversified products business in the United States and Japan.
Bridgestone said in the statement, “After 2012, he has developed new business model globally for solution business and original equipment business, and has broadened his responsibilities which include strategy planning, technology, quality management and corporate administration in the company.”.

In 2016, Bridgestone named Ishibashi as an executive vice president and executive officer.

In addition to Ishibashi’s appointment as the CEO, the company announced several other changes in senior management. Masahiro Higashi, who is currently vice-chair for mining, aircraft, agricultural solutions will now become vice-chair and global chief solutions officer responsible for solution strategy, finance and human resources, and will also be tasked with handling global OE strategy effective from March 2020.

Also, Bill Thompson, Executive Vice President of Bridgestone Americas, Inc is due to retire from his role as a vice president and senior officer for Bridgestone Corp. He will however continue as executive vice president at Bridgestone Americas.