Judith Swales to Lead Goodyear South Pacific Tyre Organization
AKRON, Ohio, January 30, 2007 - The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced the appointment of Judith Swales to the position of managing director and chief executive officer of its South Pacific Tyres (SPT) business based in Australia. Swales replaces Joe Copeland who has been named vice president of Goodyear's Global Off-Highway business based in Akron.
Swales, 39, was previously managing director of SPT retail where she initiated the modernization of the company's sales locations in Australia and New Zealand.
"Judith has demonstrated an exceptional understanding of what consumers expect in the way of service and support while overseeing our 500 company-owned Beaurepaires stores, and franchised Goodyear Auto Service Centers," said Pierre Cohade, president of Goodyear's Asia-Pacific Region. "With strong leadership skills, Judith's contributions to date have been significant in positioning our company as the premier tire provider in Australia and New Zealand. I am extremely confident that SPT will achieve further success in the future under her leadership," he said.
Before joining SPT in January 2006, Swales served most recently as managing director for Angus & Robertson, which operates a chain of more than 170 bookstores throughout Australia under the Angus & Robertson and WH Smith brand names. In that role, she had responsibility for all company-owned and franchised retail operations and marketing. Prior to that, Swales held a number of executive positions at WH Smith plc, the U.K. company that acquired Angus & Robertson in 2001.
Before her association with WH Smith, Swales served in several management positions with retailers Marks & Spencer plc and Cullen's Stores plc. Swales holds a BS degree in Microbiology and Virology from Warwick University in the United Kingdom.
Copeland, 45, was named CEO of SPT in May 2005. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of business development, strategy and restructuring and, before that, as president of Goodyear Chemical.
"As Judith assumes her new duties, it is important to note the contributions that Joe has made to SPT over the past two years," noted Cohade. "He led the restructuring of the company to focus on a new set of challenges as a global organization, drove significant improvement in SPT's financial position, transformed its organizational capability with a strong executive team, significantly reduced operating costs, and built brands. Joe has been at the helm through this important phase in SPT's history and we are all grateful for his strong and reliable leadership," Cohade said.
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. The company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 100 facilities in 29 countries around the world. Goodyear employs about 80,000 people worldwide.
Contact:
Roger Rydell,
330-796-8880
