Jake Rønsholt has left Bridgestone after 12 years of service, during which he held several important positions and helped bring about some of the company's biggest changes in the EMEA area.

Rønsholt became Vice President of Strategy & Transformation for EMEA in 2020 after rising through the ranks from his position as General Manager of Corporate & Brand Communication Europe when he joined the company in 2012. Rønsholt was generally regarded with leading several important strategic initiatives during his tenure at Bridgestone, most notably the Consumer Tyre business turnaround in 2015. He contributed to the company's record-breaking financial success in 2021 and 2022 by assisting in its response to market disruption following Covid-19 and other difficulties.

Rønsholt's impact at Bridgestone was particularly noticeable in the way the business modified its operations and strategy in response to a shifting market environment. In order to develop forward-looking market models that assisted in guiding business choices during uncertain times, he played a significant role in redefining the company's vision and incorporating technology like artificial intelligence and machine learning. Rønsholt placed a strong focus on teamwork, purpose and long-term effects throughout his tenure as leader. Rønsholt has a Master's degree in Science of Management from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management and worked in marketing and business development at Unilever Europe before joining Bridgestone.

Rønsholt said, “I am immensely proud of what we achieved together, from record-breaking financial results to reshaping the company’s vision for the future. I leave with great memories, invaluable lessons, and strong relationships that I will always cherish. Bridgestone will forever remain in my heart. Business is nothing without people!”

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Italian premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli has equipped the new McLaren W1 supercar with three bespoke tyre fitments made from more than 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials. This figure has been certified by the independent body Bureau Veritas.

Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier for the new model, which features a hybrid powertrain capable of delivering up to 1,275 PS and 1,340 Nm. The W1 has acceleration of zero to 300 kmph in less than 12.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 350 kmph.

The three new tyres – P Zero R, P Zero Trofeo RS and P Zero Winter 2 – were developed in collaboration with McLaren's R&D teams, starting in a virtual environment with driving simulation technology before progressing to physical tests. Testing locations included the Nardo circuit in southern Italy and the Idiada track in Spain.

The fitments cover every aspect of the supercar's use:

• P Zero R: Designed for daily driving.
• P Zero Trofeo RS: A track-biased tyre delivering high performance.
• P Zero Winter 2: Handles colder seasons.

All three tyres for the W1 will be produced at Pirelli’s plant in Settimo Torinese, Italy.

These bespoke P Zero tyres are the first supercar tyres to be made with over 50 percent bio-based and recycled materials. This is part of Pirelli’s industrial plan, which aims to launch the first tyres containing 80 percent of these materials by 2030. The company’s P Zero E, launched in 2023, was the first tyre on the market to contain more than 55 percent bio-based and recycled materials.

A logo identifies all Pirelli products containing at least 50 percent sustainable materials.

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Italian engineering firm Comerio Ercole S.p.A. said its participation at K2025 in Düsseldorf exceeded expectations, underscoring its reputation as a global leader in technological innovation and sustainable industrial development.

During the week-long plastics and rubber trade fair, Comerio Ercole’s booth became a major hub for international engagement, welcoming delegations from across Europe, Asia and the Americas. The company said visitors expressed “genuine and concrete interest” in its advanced technologies and long-term sustainability vision.

“The quantity and quality of specific requests received from clients and new contacts alike were truly remarkable,” Comerio Ercole said in a statement, adding that many inquiries related to “ambitious, tailor-made projects” that its R&D team has already begun studying.

The company also celebrated its 140th anniversary at the fair on 11 October , with organisers surprising the team with a commemorative cake — a gesture reserved for exhibitors marking milestone anniversaries.

“K2025 was a success: we return home inspired, proud and motivated to continue innovating for a more sustainable and dynamic industrial future,” the company said.

Separately, Comerio Ercole announced it had been recognised for the fifth consecutive year among Italy’s top-performing companies in sustainability, ranking in the Top 75 for Integrated Finance and the Top 100 for Sustainability Excellence 2025.

The Sustainability Award, presented recently at Borsa Italiana in Milan, honours companies that integrate ESG principles into their business strategies while turning environmental and social challenges into opportunities for innovation.

Representing the company at the ceremony were Olga Comerio, Board Member of Comerio 1885 Holding Società Benefit, and Riccardo Comerio, CEO of Comerio Ercole.

“We know there is still much to do, but we are committed every day to improving, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability, responsible resource management and innovation for a greener future,” said Riccardo Comerio.

The event, attended by institutional and industry leaders, featured key partners including Kon Group, Elite Euronext Group, Altis Advisory, Università Cattolica, Open-es, Eni, BCG, Google Cloud, RepRisk, Azimut Italia and Forbes Italia.

Founded in 1885 and headquartered in Busto Arsizio, Italy, Comerio Ercole specialises in high-precision engineering solutions for the rubber and plastics industries, combining technological excellence with a strong commitment to sustainable industrial development.

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In a significant leadership transition, PCBL Chemical, a part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, has appointed Nilesh Koul as its Managing Director for a five-year term, effective immediately. The company's Board confirmed this appointment during its meeting on 3 November 2025 subject to final ratification by shareholders through a postal ballot. This change was prompted by the resignation of the former Managing Director, Kaushik Roy, who stepped down for personal reasons, effective from the same date. The Board emphasised that selecting Koul is a strategic step aimed at ensuring leadership continuity and driving the company's future growth.

Koul is an experienced leader with a career spanning 28 years across diverse sectors including metals, oil and gas, construction materials and FMCG. His professional background includes senior executive roles at prominent organisations such as Hindalco Industries, British Petroleum, Castrol India, LafargeHolcim and Pidilite Industries, where he managed international operations. His most recent position was Senior President and CEO of the Aluminium Downstream business at Hindalco Industries. Academically, he is a graduate of G B Pant University and an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, and he also serves on the Board of the Aerospace India Association.

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Tire Rack is celebrating the induction of its co-founder and longtime CEO, Mike Joines, into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame. The company credits Joines' automotive passion as the foundational spark for its mission to transform the tyre industry. Under his leadership, Tire Rack pioneered one of the first e-commerce platforms for tyre retailing, fundamentally changing how consumers research and purchase tyres.

The company’s philosophy, established by Joines, centred on empowering customers through comprehensive information rather than just completing a sale. This customer-first approach was built upon providing detailed product reviews, performance testing data, side-by-side comparisons and expert guidance.

Tire Rack also acknowledges that Joines understood the critical role of its team, noting that the ingenuity and integrity of its employees have been the true driving force behind decades of innovation and sustained customer trust. The company honours Joines as an enthusiast, innovator and leader whose devotion remains a source of inspiration.

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