Johannesburg 01 October 2019, Bridgestone has today announced the appointment of Mete Ekin, current Regional Managing Director Middle East and Africa, to the position of VP Bridgestone Emerging Markets as of 1st October 2019. He will oversee Bridgestone Emerging Markets: Bridgestone EMEA’s  businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and Russia. This move will ensure dedicated support to these important and growing markets and ensure seamless alignment with the strategic direction set out by Bridgestone EMEA’s leadership to become a leader in mobility solutions.

Ekin has been chosen for this role following his earlier experience with the management of Middle East and South Africa and the integration into Bridgestone EMEA, and because of his deep knowledge of the tyre industry and the region. In his new role, Ekin will be reporting to Bridgestone EMEA CEO, Paolo Ferrari.

Managing Director Bridgestone CIS Region, Jeff Glover; Managing Director Bridgestone South Africa, Jacques Fourie; and Mete’s successor, the Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, will all be reporting to Ekin in his role as VP Bridgestone Emerging Markets.

“This is an exciting move for us that comes at the perfect time,” said the incoming VP Bridgestone Emerging Markets, Mete Ekin. “Russia, South Africa, and the Middle East are all huge markets for Bridgestone with massive potential, and we can all benefit from each other’s experience while drawing on the expertise of the mature European business. I’m looking forward to working alongside Paolo and his team in this new capacity as we continue to grow these regions and our EMEA business”.