Mete Ekin will succeed Laurent as Group President of Bridgestone EMEA. Mete brings nearly 30 years of experience in the tyre industry, having most recently led sales teams across the Middle East and Africa before joining the Bridgestone Joint Global COO Office in 2023 and moving to his current role as President of Core Tire Europe in 2024.
Mete will lead the Bridgestone EMEA Management Board, reporting directly to Scott Damon, CEO of Bridgestone West, which includes the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Laurent joined Bridgestone EMEA in 2014 and has been instrumental in navigating the region through the global pandemic and other significant challenges. Under his leadership, Bridgestone EMEA has made progress towards its sustainability targets.
“We are deeply grateful for Laurent’s contributions and thoughtful leadership throughout his career at Bridgestone,” said Scott Damon, CEO of Bridgestone West and Group President of Bridgestone Americas. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Laurent for his dedication and leadership and wish him all the best in his retirement. We also look forward to Mete’s leadership. His extensive experience and strategic vision make him the ideal leader to guide Bridgestone EMEA into its next chapter.”
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Laurent for his leadership and for overcoming various important challenges in the EMEA region over the past 10 years,” said Shu Ishibashi, Global CEO of Bridgestone Corporation. “His contributions will serve as our cornerstone for growth as we enter the next chapter under Mete’s leadership.”
Source: Tyretradenews
