Firestone Industrial Products Names New President

"Craig brings a strong background in sales, marketing and general management to Firestone Industrial Products at a time when the business is well positioned for growth," said Bill Thompson, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas. "His leadership, business acumen and extensive experience will allow Firestone to build upon the strong platform Scott and his team have established."

As president, Schneider will oversee all aspects of the Firestone Industrial Products business, including management of the more than 1,500 employees around the world who have helped position the company as a leader in manufacturing and marketing products for technologically advanced air suspensions. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and with a European office and technical center in the Netherlands; two North American plants; manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Poland, India and Costa Rica; and an assembly facility in China, Firestone Industrial Products has the global footprint to supply customers in the industrial, heavy duty and light duty markets.

Schneider joins Bridgestone after more than 13 years in leadership roles with Shell Oil Company, including international assignments. He most recently served as senior vice president and general manager of retail sales, lubricants. Prior to that role, Schneider served as vice president and general manager retail of fuels marketing. He also previously served as vice president and general manager of lubes marketing and group manager, business-to-consumer key accounts, among other roles. Prior to joining Shell Oil Company, Schneider spent several years as a consultant with CapGemini and Ernst & Young.

Schneider earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Rice University.

About Firestone Industrial Products
Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology with a history of more than 75 years of research and development on technologically advanced air springs for the global marketplace. Firestone Industrial Products manufactures air springs and related products for commercial trucks and trailers, cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, mini vans, motor homes, buses, agricultural equipment, rail and industrial applications. The company has quality-certified manufacturing/assembly plants and technical centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

SOURCE Firestone Industrial Products