Bridgestone has initiated a planned CEO succession to propel the corporation towards its 2031 centennial. The board has selected Yasuhiro Morita, a seasoned executive with a background in international tyre operations and global strategy, to assume the role of global CEO on 1 January 2026. He will succeed Shuichi Ishibashi, who will retire from his executive position on 31 December 2025 and formally depart from the board after the annual shareholder meeting in March 2026.

Morita, a company veteran since 1996, brings extensive international experience from roles in Europe and Asia. His more recent positions as Global Chief Administration Officer and Global Chief Strategy Officer have given him broad oversight, encompassing areas from finance and sustainability to digital transformation and supply chain management. This background will be crucial as he leads Bridgestone following a period of significant restructuring.

This leadership transition is framed as a strategic accelerator, intended to build upon a recent foundation of business restructuring and product enhancement. The company aims to leverage Morita's extensive experience to drive its next chapter of sustainable growth and strengthen long-term corporate value. The complete 2026 global management team will be detailed upon finalization of the plan.

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a developer of sustainable scrap tyre recycling solutions, has announced the selection of Mario Mantaci as its new Chief Technology Officer. An experienced engineering executive with a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Mantaci brings over two decades of international expertise from the aerospace, naval, manufacturing and cleantech sectors. His career includes senior leadership positions with globally recognised firms such as Boeing and Collins Aerospace, where he managed complex engineering programmes and large-scale manufacturing projects. He is also the founder of DUMA Engineering Inc., a company through which he led pioneering work in biomass gasification and collaborated with European academic institutions to develop novel technologies for producing hydrogen and syngas.

In his new role as CTO, Mantaci will assume comprehensive responsibility for guiding Ecolomondo’s technological direction and advancement. His immediate priority will be to finalise the full operational ramp-up of the company’s flagship Hawkesbury, Ontario facility. This plant represents a significant investment of over USD 52 million and utilises Ecolomondo’s proprietary Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP), a technology refined over 25 years, which converts waste tyres into reusable resources. Mantaci’s mandate extends to aligning the company’s technology roadmap with its broader business objectives and ensuring it remains responsive to industry trends and competitive landscapes.

His leadership will focus on driving technology improvements aimed at boosting operational efficiency, safety and automation while also ensuring compliance with regulations and upholding strong ethical development practices. A key part of his mission will be to enhance the scalability of the TDP technology to facilitate the future construction of additional recycling facilities. Mantaci will also lead Ecolomondo’s engineering teams, promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration and will manage relationships with external research partners. Furthermore, he will be tasked with finalising the hiring for production and maintenance personnel and will oversee the implementation of critical operational protocols and certification programmes, including ISCC+ and various ESG initiatives, to solidify the company’s standing in the circular economy.

JF Labbé, Interim CEO of Ecolomondo, said, “We welcome Mantaci with great expectations and full confidence in his ability to lead our technical teams with success. His leadership and broad technical background will help position the Company for its next phase of technological and operational growth.”

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Bridgestone India announced the winners of the 5th Edition of its Mobility Social Impact Awards (MSIA) 2025 in Pune, celebrating organisations that use mobility for social good.

The top honour in the Road Safety Innovation and Excellence category went to ALERT (Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team) from Chennai for empowering over 450,000 citizens with emergency response skills. Safety Research Foundation (SRF), based in Pune, received a Jury Commendation for its BRACE Project, which transforms school zones with safety audits and infrastructure upgrades.

In the Empowerment of Vulnerable Communities category, The Association of People with Disability (APD), Bengaluru, won the top honour for its Rehab on Wheels initiative, which provides last-mile rehabilitation services.

The winners were presented with their awards by social worker Dr. Girish Kulkarni, founder of Snehalaya.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Group President, Bridgestone Asia Pacific and Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said: “It is a privilege to honour these changemakers who are redefining mobility for social good. Their work reflects our shared commitment to building inclusive, safe, and empowered communities.”

Jeya Padmanaban, Founding Trustee, Safety Research Foundation (SRF), said, “We are truly honoured to receive the Jury Commendation at the Bridgestone Mobility Social Impact Awards 2025. The BRACE Project reflects our belief that road safety must begin at the community level, where awareness and infrastructure meet action. This recognition strengthens our resolve to continue building safer environments for children and fostering a culture of responsibility and care on our roads.”

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Linglong Tire has announced the promotion of Alessio Iacovelli to Deputy Director of Replacement Sales for Western Europe, effective 1 September 2025. In this elevated role, Iacovelli will take on leadership of the regional sales team with a mandate to accelerate business development. His key objectives will include forging strategic alliances and implementing programmes to strengthen customer loyalty. Iacovelli will report directly to Lisa Zhao, the Director of Replacement Sales for Western Europe, and will collaborate with her to manage key markets, including Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain.

Iacovelli, who began his career with Goodyear and Nexen, first joined Linglong Tire at the end of 2022 as a Sales Manager. In that capacity, he demonstrated significant success in developing the Southern European aftermarket, where he expanded the brand's footprint, defined effective growth strategies and secured robust partnerships with distributors. This strategic appointment and the restructuring of the sales leadership underscore Linglong Tire's intensified focus on achieving its ambitious growth targets across the European continent.

Iacovelli said, "I am very pleased to have been promoted to Deputy Director Replacement Sales West Europe at Linglong Tire. We have fantastic products such as the Sport Master 4S and the Sport Master Winter, both successfully tested in the recently published tyre tests. We have a state-of-the-art development centre in Germany and a new tyre plant in Europe and are successful in original equipment – ideal conditions for achieving our ambitious goals together with my team and the colleagues in Hannover and continuing to grow, especially in Europe."

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German synthetic rubber maker ARLANXEO has launched consultations with worker representatives over the potential closure of its Port Jerome facility in France, citing persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness in the European chemicals industry.

The company, which is majority-owned by Saudi Aramco, had begun an information and consultation period with the Works Council at the site, located in northern France. A final decision on the closure will be taken after the mandatory consultation process concludes and approval is obtained from the French labour authorities, DREETS.

“The European chemical industry continues to face persistent weak demand and declining competitiveness driven by rising costs, unbalanced global markets, and increased regulatory pressure,” said Stephan van Santbrink, ARLANXEO chief executive.

“These conditions have generated a significant burden on the sector across the regional value chain. ARLANXEO has not been an exception to these challenges. The Port Jerome site has remained in a structurally loss-making position. Despite numerous improvement efforts, we do not foresee a viable path to a sustained structural improvement.”

The company did not disclose how many jobs would be affected by a potential closure, nor did it provide details on the facility’s production capacity or annual output.

Van Santbrink acknowledged the impact on workers, saying: “We recognise the impact a potential closure may have on our employees, and we regret the need to consider these steps. We will continue to treat all employees with respect. If we decide to cease operations at the site, we will do our utmost to assist in finding alternative solutions for all impacted employees. In addition, we intend to provide impacted employees with a social plan which reflects their valued contribution to ARLANXEO.”

The announcement adds to a growing list of European chemical producers struggling with high energy costs, sluggish demand and competition from lower-cost producers in Asia and the United States.

ARLANXEO said it would work closely with all affected internal and external stakeholders to minimise the impact of the intended closure.

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