Bridgestone Americas announced new senior management changes as part of global leadership changes of its parent company, Bridgestone Corporation. The change in its leadership structure is also part of a broader succession platform designed to cultivate global leaders throughout the company.

In the new structure, sales of all tire-led businesses across the Americas region, including the company’s large integrated consumer and commercial tire businesses, will be aligned under TJ Higgins, who has been named group president, Americas Tire Business for Bridgestone Americas, a new role. Additionally, Scott Damon has been named group president, operations, for Bridgestone Americas. This new role is designed to create greater focus on the company’s end-to-end supply chain capabilities and includes some of the previous responsibilities of the chief operating officer (COO) role, which has been redefined. Damon will have responsibility for the company’s operational functions, including information technology (IT), procurement and strategic sourcing, logistics and supply chain and manufacturing.

Scott_TJ_headshots_press_Web_Web — L - TJ Higgins; R - Scott Damon | © Bridgestone

“The world around us and the industries we serve are rapidly transforming,” said Gordon Knapp, president and CEO, Bridgestone Americas, and vice chair, executive vice president and executive officer of Bridgestone Corporation. “These changes and new structure are strategic, and our ability to develop leaders into global roles across the Bridgestone portfolio is a competitive advantage and allows us to be more agile. Moving forward, we will continue to adapt our management structure to best meet the market challenges of today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

The company has also created a new senior leadership role fully dedicated to managing the significant portfolio of digital transformation investments in infrastructure and growth platforms, the largest in the company’s history. Bill Thompson will serve in this capacity as executive vice president, business transformation, Bridgestone Americas. Thompson previously served as COO of Bridgestone Americas from 2016-2019.

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Bridgestone Americas announces new senior management changes