Tyre Industry Veteran Jom Jacob Dies Of Cardiac Arrest
- By TT News
- November 30, 2024
Chief analyst and Co-Founder of WhatNext Rubber Media International Jom Jacob has passed away due to a cardiac arrest on 30 November 2024.
The industry veteran had spent over three decades specialised in market dynamics and price outlook of natural rubber. He was a senior economist with ANRPC (Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries), at Kuala Lumpur, before he co-founded WhatNext Rubber Media International.
Jacob had also worked with the Rubber Board (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India) for around two decades by monitoring and formulating development plans for rubber industry. The veteran had a short stint with the Centre for Development Studies (Affiliated to the Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU) as a researcher in sustainable land-use.
He was an expert at Fundamental Analysis of the rubber market and widely regarded for his charming and friendly personality amongst his circles. In the rubber industry Jacob will be widely remembered as a friend a phone call away,
Michelin Names Bénédicte de Bonnechose As New CFO
- By TT News
- January 22, 2026
Michelin has appointed Bénédicte de Bonnechose as its new Chief Financial Officer, with her tenure commencing on 1 June 2026. She will take over the role from Yves Chapot. Presently serving on the Michelin Executive Committee, she currently manages the European region and the Urban and Long-Distance Transportation Business lines.
De Bonnechose originally joined the group in April 2019 as the Deputy Group CFO. Her extensive professional background includes over 25 years at the Lafarge Group, where she progressed from financial management into significant operational leadership positions within its Cement, Aggregates and Concrete divisions. Most notably, she served as President of LafargeHolcim France and Belgium from 2015 to 2018. Her early career featured four years in the audit sector with Deloitte, focused on the Industrial and Retail markets.
HF GROUP to Engineer and Deliver R&D Innovation Centre for Toyo Tires’ Inđija Plant
- By TT News
- January 22, 2026
HF GROUP has been selected as the engineering and technology partner for a new research and development innovation centre being developed by Toyo Tires at its tyre manufacturing facility in Inđija.
The project forms part of Toyo Tires’ expansion of its Serbian operations and reflects the company’s strategic focus on strengthening compound research and development capabilities. The new innovation centre will cover an area of approximately 6,000 square metres and is designed to support advanced compound development for high-performance and energy-efficient tyres.
HF GROUP has been involved in the project since 2024, when both companies began working jointly on the first conceptual layout designs through a structured pre-engineering phase. This early-stage collaboration formed part of HF GROUP’s system engineering services, aimed at optimising plant layout, process integration and future scalability.
Under the agreement, HF GROUP will be responsible for the complete engineering, supply and installation of the R&D production line. The facility will be equipped with advanced mixing technology, enabling the development and processing of complex compound formulations aligned with evolving performance and sustainability requirements in the tyre industry.
The innovation centre is scheduled to be commissioned in 2027 and is expected to play a central role in Toyo Tires’ future product development activities in Europe. The project further strengthens HF GROUP’s position as a technology partner for tyre manufacturers investing in next-generation research, process innovation and high-efficiency compound development.
CEAT to Invest Up INR 36.1 M To In Tyresnmore Rights Issue
- By TT News
- January 22, 2026
CEAT Limited has approved an investment of up to INR 36.1 million in its wholly owned subsidiary Tyresnmore Online Private Limited through a rights issue of equity shares.
The investment will be made through the subscription of 29,575 equity shares, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Tyresnmore Online Private Limited, a private company incorporated in June 2014 and headquartered in New Delhi, reported a turnover of INR 322.6 M for the year ended March 31 2025. The business operates in the auto ancillary sector, selling automotive tyres and accessories and providing services including installation, wheel balancing and wheel alignment.
CEAT said the transaction qualifies as a related-party transaction under applicable regulations but will be conducted at arm’s length. Apart from Tyresnmore being a wholly owned subsidiary, the promoter group of CEAT has no interest in the entity or the transaction.
Following the investment, CEAT’s shareholding in Tyresnmore will remain unchanged at 100 percent. The consideration will be paid in cash through normal banking channels.
The company expects the equity shares to be allotted by Tyresnmore no later than 16 February 2026. No governmental or regulatory approvals are required for the transaction, CEAT said.
Tyre Runner Adds Tyres Life To Wholesale Marketplace Network
- By TT News
- January 19, 2026
Tyre Runner has added Tyres Life to its marketplace network, expanding its wholesale offering for independent tyre retailers.
The partnership brings one of the UK’s fastest-growing tyre wholesalers onto Tyre Runner’s platform, which is designed to connect retailers with suppliers while allowing retailers to retain control over pricing and purchasing decisions.
Tyre Runner said the move comes as independent retailers face continued margin pressure and are seeking greater flexibility in how they source tyres. The company’s marketplace enables wholesale ordering from multiple suppliers through a single platform.
Tyres Life has established nationwide coverage from three warehouse locations and holds more than 100,000 tyres in stock. The company is the exclusive UK distributor of Lassa, Tomket and Waterfall, and also supplies brands including Pirelli, Continental, Goodyear and Michelin.
Founded in 2019 by Bryan MacMillan, a former Kwik Fit software engineer, Tyre Runner has developed from a tyre sales marketplace into a broader software platform focused on tyre health awareness, supply chain connectivity and digital tools for the tyre trade.
Bryan MacMillan, chief executive of Tyre Runner, said: “We’re delighted to add Tyres Life to our growing list of wholesale partners. This partnership exemplifies how our sales platform can connect high-quality wholesalers with independent retailers, helping both grow stronger together.
“The tyre market remains digitally immature, and to compete in an increasingly omnichannel world, online is just one part of the puzzle. Our mission has always been to empower the trade, not compete against it. That’s why we are focused on bringing a range of tools to market to help retailers compete better, not just online, but offline as well.”
Tommie Owens, commercial director at Tyres Life, said: “Tyre Runner opens reach like never before. Bryan and his team have a very clear vision for what the future of tyre retail will look like, and we’re excited to see Tyres Life’s products access even more markets efficiently.”
Tyre Runner said the addition of Tyres Life strengthens its marketplace model, which aims to streamline wholesale access while preserving retailer margins. The company added that the partnership aligns both businesses around shared priorities of efficiency, profitability and safety across the tyre supply chain.
Comments (1)
ADD COMMENT