Bridgestone strengthens team amid regionalisation strategy

Bridgestone UK has strengthened its sales and marketing team with the announcement of several new appointments within its consumer and commercial operations.

The new structure will see Brett Emerson and Greg Ward extend their current roles as UK consumer sales director and commercial sales director respectively into Ireland.

Supporting Emerson will be Jackie Wherity, Ireland consumer sales manager, with Ward being supported by Ireland commercial sales manager Frank White.

Tim Lee becomes the firm’s consumer marketing manager for the north region, moving from the position of key account executive and Andy Mathias, who was previously the national fleet executive, is now the UK TBR product and marketing manager, reporting into Roger Moulding, commercial product manager.

Emerson’s role involves working with the consumer sales and marketing division to plan and implement the sales strategies for Bridgestone and Firestone car, van and 4x4 tyres. Ward’s role will mirror Emerson’s, however it will cover truck, retread, agricultural and off road tyres.

Lee and Mathias will focus on marketing Bridgestone products to the consumer and commercial markets respectively.

John McNaught, managing director for Bridgestone North Region, said: “Strengthening the sales and marketing teams in this way reflects our regionalisation strategy in Northern Europe. The UK and Ireland are among the biggest in the region and as such we need to ensure the right people with the right skills are in the right positions in what is a very competitive market.”

Other changes within the new Bridgestone structure include Jonas Fodstad, who takes on the role of Nordic commercial sales director, reporting to John Folliss, North Region commercial sales and marketing director. Thomas Harbo becomes Nordic consumer sales director, reporting to Andy Lane, the north region consumer sales & marketing director.

These appointments form part of a wider restructuring process which Bridgestone has undertaken to adapt to market conditions and improve communications across the business in northern Europe.