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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Bekaert’s Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Olivier Biebuyck as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 June 2026. He brings extensive expertise in leading, expanding and transforming global industrial enterprises through both organic growth and acquisitions, positioning him to drive Bekaert’s future strategic goals.

On that same date, the board will co-opt Biebuyck as a director. Meanwhile, current CEO and board member Yves Kerstens will conclude his mandate on 31 May 2026, having led the company in recent years. He will also step down from his directorship as of that day.

The leadership transition marks a carefully planned succession, with Biebuyck’s track record seen as critical to advancing Bekaert’s long-term ambitions. The changes take effect at the end of May and start of June 2026.

Jürgen Tinggren, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “I am proud to announce the appointment of Olivier Biebuyck as CEO of Bekaert. The Board is convinced that he is the right person to lead the transformation of the company in its next chapter. On behalf of the Board and the entire Bekaert team, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Yves for his leadership, commitment and contribution to the company over the past years, and wish him the very best.”

Biebuyck said, “Bekaert has an impressive history of innovation, business expansion and evolution. I am honoured to take up the role of CEO at Bekaert. I look forward to working closely with the Board, the leadership team and all colleagues around the world to further transform and grow the company and create long term value for all our stakeholders.”

Kerstens said, “It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Bekaert and to work alongside our colleagues around the world during the past years. I am proud of what we have achieved together and wish Olivier all the best to lead the company in building a strong future.”

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Sri Lanka-based GRI Tires has extended its limited warranty coverage for pneumatic tyres to up to 10 years, effective from 2026, as the specialty tyre manufacturer seeks to strengthen customer assurance across its agricultural, construction and material handling businesses.

The revised warranty policy applies to all GRI-branded pneumatic tyres manufactured on or after January 1, 2025, and covers customers in more than 80 countries. The company previously offered warranty coverage of up to seven years.

Under the updated policy, agricultural radial tyres will be covered for up to 10 years, while agricultural bias tyres will receive coverage of up to eight years. Construction, earthmover, industrial, material handling, port and mining tyres will be covered for up to five years, subject to terms and conditions.

GRI said warranty protection would cover qualifying defects, with credit issued on a pro-rated basis.

For qualifying failures occurring within the first three years, and where radial tyre wear does not exceed 20 per cent, customers will receive a full replacement credit.

The warranty applies exclusively to the original end-use purchaser.

“This enhanced 10-year warranty is more than a policy update — it is a statement of our conviction in the quality of every tire we manufacture,” said Barry Guildford, global commercial director at GRI.

“We build tires to perform in the most demanding conditions, and we stand behind them.”

Customers can submit warranty claims through authorised GRI dealers and distributors, or directly through the company’s customer support channels.

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Georg Nordmann Holding Aktiengesellschaft (GNH) has appointed Martin Rathke as Managing Director of its subsidiary Nordmann (Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH), effective 1 May 2026. The move marks a strategic step in the company’s ongoing leadership development.

Rathke joins with considerable leadership experience and deep knowledge of international sales and distribution within the chemical distribution sector. His career includes years of service in a family-owned enterprise, where he held senior management roles with global responsibility. He will now share leadership duties with Ulrich Cramer, who remains in his position, and together they aim to form a closely aligned team to advance Nordmann’s strategic direction.

The joint leadership will focus on accelerating global expansion through targeted strategic, organic and inorganic growth while optimising existing operations and continuously refining the company’s portfolio strategy. Backed by the commitment of its shareholders, Nordmann seeks to strengthen its international presence and evolve into a global player in the chemical distribution industry.

Irina Zschaler, CEO of Georg Nordmann Holding Aktiengesellschaft, said, “Martin brings exactly the combination of entrepreneurial mindset, international experience and leadership strength that we value in our relationships and for our path to grow. Our collaboration is based on responsibility, integrity and the aspiration to create added value together for all involved and the entire group. We are therefore very much looking forward to welcoming our full Nordmann team.”

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Shandong Linglong Tire has submitted a proposal to the Egyptian government to develop an integrated automotive tyre manufacturing complex in Egypt with planned investments of about USD 2 Billion, according to a media report.

The project, as per Egypt Torday, would be developed under the private free zone system in partnership with Fit & Fix and focus on producing tyres for passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.

Mohamed Farid, Egypt’s Minister Of Investment And Foreign Trade, held discussions with company representatives regarding the proposed development, which is planned for Borg El Arab across an area of up to 3m square metres, added the report.

According to the proposal, the project would also include supporting industries such as rubber and carbon black production. About 90 per cent of output is expected to be exported, primarily to the US and Gulf markets.

Farid said attracting investments that support technology transfer and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities remained a priority for the Egyptian government. He added that expanding industrial capacity in sectors such as automotive components and tire manufacturing was important for increasing the value of Egyptian exports.

The minister said the free zone system was designed to simplify investment procedures and strengthen Egypt’s competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment for industrial projects. He added that the private free zone framework offered incentives and operational flexibility to support exports and access to global markets.

The company said total investments were expected to reach USD 2 billion across different phases of development, subject to regulatory approvals and licensing requirements.

Sophie Li said Egypt’s geographic position and trade agreements made it an attractive regional manufacturing and export hub.

She added that the company planned to establish a fully integrated industrial complex using advanced production technologies in partnership with Nile Trade and Projects Company, with a focus on technology transfer and local industrial development.

Li said the company would continue working with Egyptian authorities to complete approvals and move the project towards implementation.

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