Download - SA TREADS

26 • Manufacturing
New MD for
Goodyear SA
Goodyear’s EEMEA (Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa) President, Michel Rzonzef, has
announced the appointment of Jean-Jacques Wiroth as Managing Director for Goodyear Tyre and
Rubber Holdings. He replaces Derek de Villiers who is retiring after more than 34 years’ service
with the company. Wiroth, currently Managing Director for Dunlop in Germany, will be based in Port
Elizabeth and will report to Rzonzef. The appointment is effective 1 April.
Says Rzonzef: “Jean-Jacques is a very experienced professional, having held senior appointments in both
regional and country positions. I am very pleased that he will be leading our South African operation,
which has made a great deal of progress in the past few years under Derek’s leadership. In Germany
Jean-Jacques has done an excellent job, developing the Dunlop brand to the point that it is now the leading
brand in the marketplace.”
Wiroth joined Goodyear in Luxembourg in 1982 as a chemical engineer, working in the compounding
section. He held several assignments, mainly working in OE (Original Equipment) tread compounding,
before being appointed Product Manager Consumer Tyres Europe in 1994.
In 1997 he moved to the USA as Marketing Director for North American Tyre’s consumer tyres. In 2001
he moved to Brussels, Belgium, as Director OE Sales and Marketing and in 2005, transferred to Germany
as Managing Director for the Dunlop brand. Wiroth received his degree in chemistry from ETH University
in Switzerland. The 52-year old Wiroth, who is a citizen of Luxembourg, is married to Petra and they have a
daughter.
Paying tribute to de Villiers, Rzonzef says: “Derek has been a strong leader for many years, both in South Africa
and the Middle East. He is highly regarded by his peers both inside and outside the company. We thank him
for his considerable contributions.”
De Villiers was appointed Managing Director in South Africa in 2006, having previously been Managing Director
of Goodyear’s Middle East region since 2001. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of Tredcor (the holding
company for Mastertreads and Trentyre) in Cape Town. The company later became consolidated as Trentyre,
owned by Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Holdings.
Passmore’s SA career is shortlived
At the time the March issue of SA TREADS went to press we got word that our former interviewee, Mr Gareth
Passmore, had unexpectedly left Continental Tyre SA, so we asked Eddie Jordaan, General Manager: Sales &
Marketing for an official comment on the matter:
“Gareth Passmore left Continental by mutual agreement in order to pursue other opportunities outside of
Continental.”
The position is yet to be filled. We will report on a new replacement in due course.