Sumitomo Rubber Europe GmbH has appointed Michael Haupt as Senior Manager Tyre Design/Automotive Original Equipment (OE) with effect from 1 April 2025. Haupt will lead the company’s OE division and take care of tyre development activities for its Falken and Dunlop brands.

Haupt has more than 30 years of expertise in the tyre and automotive industries. He began working for Ford Motor Company in 1994 as a research engineer before joining Porsche in 1996. He advanced to the role of team leader in tyre development throughout his tenure at Porsche, where he significantly contributed to the advancement of quality management procedures. Haupt worked for Nexen Tyre for five years in top positions, first as Vice President for OE development in Europe and then as top Vice President for worldwide OE and replacement tyre development, prior to joining Sumitomo Rubber Europe. His achievements there included creating high-end tyres specifically for German original equipment manufacturers, optimising manufacturing procedures and raising brand awareness through media and motorsport initiatives.

Dr Bernd Löwenhaupt, Managing Director, Sumitomo Rubber Europe, said, “Michael Haupt is an excellent fit for our team. His leadership qualities and extensive experience in tyre development and OE strategy make him a strong addition to our company as we continue to innovate and grow in the European market.”

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TBC Corporation, one of North America’s largest marketers of automotive replacement tyres through wholesale and franchise operations, has elevated Greg Ortega to the role of Chief Purchasing Officer. The promotion places Ortega on the company’s executive team, where he will be responsible for global purchasing strategies and supplier relationships, reporting directly to President and CEO Don Byrd.

With a career at TBC spanning more than three decades beginning in 1996, Ortega brings over 30 years of experience in purchasing, merchandising, product marketing and sales. He most recently served as Group Vice President, overseeing consumer and commercial tyre procurement strategies while strengthening key supplier partnerships. His rise through progressive leadership roles underscores his long-standing impact on the organisation.

Ortega holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University, San Bernardino, as well as advanced degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University. He also earned two professional certifications from the Institute for Supply Management: Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity and Certified Professional in Supply Management.

Byrd said, “Greg’s tenure at TBC has given him in-depth knowledge of our business and industry, and in his new role, he will continue to strengthen our company by leading our integrated, enterprise-wide approach to purchasing. Greg has served a critical role in shaping key relationships to support our competitive advantage and positioned us for long-term growth.”

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WACKER has announced a leadership change in its Polymers division, effective 1 May 2026. Maximilian Peter, a doctorate holder in chemical engineering and a company veteran since 2012, assumes the role of the head of Polymers division. His prior experience includes process development, Corporate Development and most recently Human Resources.

On the same date, outgoing Polymers head Peter Summo transitions to lead Sales & Distribution. Summo, who led the division for a decade, brings a business administration background and joined WACKER in 1995 after starting his career at Akzo Nobel. He has since served in multiple management roles.

Peter Summo

The restructuring places both executives in new senior positions, ensuring continuity in polymer operations while refreshing commercial leadership. Summo’s long tenure in the division gives way to Peter’s broader internal track record across engineering, strategy, and personnel functions.

Christian Hartel, CEO, WACKER, said, “With Maximilian Peter and Peter Summo, we are filling two key positions at WACKER with experienced colleagues who have already played a decisive role in using their expertise to shape the company. As head of the Polymers division, Maximilian Peter will continue to drive forward its regional expansion. Peter Summo will continue to forge ahead with WACKER’s market and customer focus and promote sales excellence throughout the company. I wish them both every success in their new roles and look forward to our continued collaboration going forward.”

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Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd is positioning its tyre business as a key growth driver, backed by calibrated investment, product expansion and a long-term plan to scale operations across domestic and export markets.

The company’s re-entry into the tyre segment through the revival of Birla Tyres marks a strategic diversification beyond its core speciality chemicals and carbon materials business. In its first year of operations, the tyre division generated revenue of INR 1.87 billion, reflecting an early-stage but measured recovery.

Management has outlined an ambitious medium-term target to scale the business to around INR 30 billione in revenue over the next four years, signalling a significant ramp-up in capacity utilisation, distribution reach and product portfolio.

The investment strategy is deliberately phased. The company is prioritising product-market fit, channel expansion and brand repositioning before pursuing volume-led growth. It has already established a distribution base of 43 distributors and more than 1,000 dealers, providing a platform for scale.

“We are approaching the revival of our tyre business in a calibrated manner, focusing first on product-market fit, channel strength and brand positioning before scaling volumes,” said Anurag Choudhary, Chairman, Managing Director And Chief Executive.

At the product level, Himadri is strengthening its presence in agriculture and commercial vehicle segments, where brands such as KalaPatthar and Shaan+ are gaining traction. New launches, including AgriPlus and AgriWin tractor tyre series, are expected to support near-term growth.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand into passenger car radial tyres, with commissioning targeted over the next 24 months. The strategy will focus on electric vehicle-specific tyres, leveraging Himadri’s expertise in carbon black chemistry to develop higher-performance products with improved durability and efficiency.

“Our objective is not merely to regain market presence, but to build a differentiated and competitive tyre business that can sustainably grow across domestic and select international markets,” Choudhary said.

Capacity expansion and production ramp-up will be aligned closely with demand visibility over the next 12–24 months. The company indicated that utilisation levels will increase progressively, supported by new product introductions across agriculture, mining and commercial vehicle segments.

Alongside manufacturing, Himadri is investing in process improvements and supply chain capabilities to ensure consistent quality as volumes scale. The broader objective is to build a differentiated tyre business rather than pursue rapid expansion at the cost of margins.

Management said the tyre division remains at an early stage but is expected to evolve into a meaningful contributor to overall growth in the coming years, complementing the company’s advanced materials and speciality chemicals portfolio.

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CEAT Limited reported a 23 percent year-on-year increase in consolidated revenue to INR 42.19 billion in the fourth quarter of the financial year ended 31 March  2026, with net profit of INR 2.44 billion and an EBITDA margin of 14.18 percent.

For the full year, the tyre maker posted consolidated revenue of INR 156.78 billion, up 18.6 percent, with net profit of INR 6.97 billion and an EBITDA margin of 13.16 percent.

CEAT Limited said the quarterly performance was supported by growth across segments, including its international business, despite geopolitical pressures.

Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & Chief Executive, said: “FY26 has been a strong year where we delivered robust growth in top line as well as in bottom line. We crossed an important milestone of  INR 150 billion of revenue, accompanied by market share gains in replacement and OEMS. We successfully closed the CAMSO deal during the year.

“In Q4, we delivered high growth in all segments including international business, despite geopolitical tensions. Looking ahead, while there is a momentum on top line, we have short-term challenges on supply chain and costs due to steep increase raw material cost that we intent to mitigate through pricing and strong cost management. We intend to continue expanding our capacities in line with our growth plans.”

On a standalone basis, fourth-quarter revenue stood at INR 40.36 billion, up 18 percent year on year, with an EBITDA margin of 14.55 percent and net profit of INR 2.84 billion.

Kumar Subbiah, Chief Financial Officer, said: “In Q4, we improved operating margins by over 51 bps, driven by a sharper focus on operating efficiencies, scale and disciplined cost management. For the year, we delivered our highest-ever profit of INR 6.97 billion. “Our balance sheet continues to be strong and leverage ratios remain healthy to provide growth capital to the business. While gross debt has increased, we remain committed to maintaining a cautious leverage profile with adequate liquidity.

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