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Bridgestone Americas Press Center

August 10, 2018 NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Bridgestone Americas Announces New President of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Latin America

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) today announced Joseph Saoud, formerly president, truck bus radial and retread tires, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO), has been named president, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Latin America (BATO LA). In this role, Saoud will oversee the Bridgestone tire business in Latin America, which includes subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. He will report directly to Gordon Knapp, president and CEO, Bridgestone Americas.

“Joseph has demonstrated strong leadership as president of the truck bus radial and retread business, delivering continuous growth and positive business results, always ensuring operational excellence and talent development,” said Knapp. “Latin America is a vibrant region and represents an important business for our Americas and global operations. Joseph’s global perspective, in-country experience, broad management expertise and diverse background will be crucial to ensure the continued success and growth of the organization.”

Prior to joining Bridgestone Americas, Saoud held positions of increasing responsibility during his 20 years at Cummins Inc. Before leaving Cummins, Saoud was president of Cummins Filtration, the world’s leading diesel engine filtration company with design, manufacturing and distribution facilities across the globe.

Saoud earned a bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from the University of Southern Mississippi as well as an MBA from Vanderbilt University. He succeeds Gabriel Asbun, who was recently named chief operating officer of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (BSCAP).

For more company news, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

 

About Latin American Tire division, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:

Bridgestone Americas maintains an established and strong presence in Latin America through the subsidiaries that make up the Latin American Tire Operations (BATO LA), which is part of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. BATO LA, through eight manufacturing and sales subsidiaries, operates five tire production plants — two in Brazil, and one each in Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico— along with proving grounds in Acuña, Mexico, and São Pedro, Brazil. In addition, through Bandag do Brasil Ltda. and Bandag de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., the companies manufacture and market pre-cure retread for truck and bus tires.

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