Goodyear's top executives in Asia Pacific take the lead

On November 14, 2011, Goodyear Tire & Rubber announced the appointment of Dan Smytka as president of the company's Asia Pacific region. Mr. Shi Minde is an experienced professional manager with more than 25 years of senior leadership experience. He previously led the passenger tire business in the Goodyear Asia Pacific region, and later was responsible for the relocation and expansion project of the new Pulandian plant invested by the company in China. He will take over from Pierre E. Cohade as President of Goodyear Asia Pacific. Mr. Howard has decided to leave Goodyear to seek new development opportunities and will officially announce it later.

“Schmidt is a very talented professional manager and an ideal leader who can take our Asia Pacific business to a new level.” Richard Claymer, Chairman, President and CEO of Goodyear Global Richard Kramer commented, "He is not only familiar with the tire industry, he is very experienced in all aspects of Goodyear's operations and has extraordinary leadership skills. Shi Minde's rich experience will make him a very good leader in the Asia Pacific region. It's crucial to Goodyear's success."

Kramer also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Howard for his contribution to the growth of Goodyear in the Asia Pacific region. “Our success in the Asia Pacific region, especially in China, is critical to our long-term goals. In the seven years that Kehuade led, we have made tremendous progress in the Asia-Pacific region, which has laid a solid foundation for our future development. We are very grateful to Mr. Howard for his leadership and for his contribution to Goodyear.” Mr. Howard will continue to stay at the company until the end of the year to assist with the smooth transition.

Mr. Shi Minde, aged 49, joined Goodyear as vice president of Asia Pacific in passenger tires business in 2008. Prior to this, he served GE for nearly 20 years and has held leadership positions in operations, consumer goods and business operations. Mr. Shi Minde has lived in China for three years and served as president of GE Consumer Products & Industrial Group Asia Pacific. Before joining Goodyear, Shi Minde also worked for United Technologies.