The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced two senior leadership appointments, effective Jan. 1, 2019.
Jon Bellissimo, vice president, Americas product development and head of Goodyear Chemical, will become senior vice president, global operations and technology. Laura Duda, vice president, Americas communications, will become senior vice president, global communications and chief communications officer.
In his new role, Bellissimo will provide executive leadership for Goodyear’s global engineering; quality; procurement; manufacturing and environmental, health, safety and sustainability; sales and Operations planning and project management functions.
Bellissimo brings four decades of experience in the design, development and manufacturing of Goodyear products, having served in a variety of functional and operational roles at the regional and global levels. In addition to his product development leadership within the Americas and Goodyear’s Chemical business, Bellissimo served as the director of Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio, and has played an integral role in manufacturing plant startups around the world, the company says.
Bellissimo succeeds Joe Zekoski, who will retire after a career of nearly 40 years at Goodyear.
Duda will lead all aspects of Goodyear’s global communications, including media relations, associate communications, corporate reputation, philanthropy, community relations and the company’s fleet of airships.
Duda joined Goodyear in 2016 with nearly 20 years of strategic communications leadership experience in the energy industry. Immediately prior, she led corporate, utility and commercial communications for Chicago-based Exelon Corporation.
Duda succeeds Paul Fitzhenry, who is returning to the East Coast to join his family and pursue his next opportunity after serving as Goodyear’s chief communications officer since 2012. Fitzhenry will remain with Goodyear through the first quarter of 2019 to ensure a smooth transition, Goodyear says.
“I am excited to welcome Jon and Laura to Goodyear’s senior leadership team. They are proven leaders who will bring both innovative thinking and deep industry knowledge that will position Goodyear for the future,” says Richard J. Kramer, chairman, CEO and president.
“At the same time, I want to express my gratitude for the contributions of both Joe Zekoski and Paul Fitzhenry. Their tireless work and commitment to Goodyear has had a lasting impact on our associates and helped position our company for ongoing success,” Kramer adds.
