Bridgestone Americas has announced that Eric Higgs, currently the vice president of marketing for the commercial group for U.S. and Canada with Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO), has been named BATO’s president of truck, bus and retread tires for U.S. and Canada, effective Sept. 1. Eric succeeds Joseph Saoud, who recently assumed the position of president of BATO Latin America.
As president, Higgs will lead sales, distribution and integrated business planning for the commercial tire and retread business in North America. He also will oversee the development and delivery of innovative new products, technologies and services that drive value for original equipment manufacturers, fleet customers and commercial tire dealers.
“This is a pivotal time for our industry as new technologies and data-driven platforms are impacting the way fleet owners and managers do business,” said Scott Damon, president of the commercial group for U.S. and Canada with BATO. “Eric has demonstrated his ability to anticipate these shifts and pioneer new ways to create value for our customers and dealers. His commitment to make mobility more efficient for fleet customers makes him the right person to take on the role of president, and I look forward to the development of the team under his leadership.”
Steve Sutherland, current executive director, sales, distribution and global accounts for Firestone Ag, will assume Higgs’ current role of vice president of marketing for the commercial group for U.S. and Canada with BATO. In this role, Sutherland will lead the overarching marketing strategy for the commercial group and have direct marketing oversight for the commercial truck, Bandag retread, off-the-road (OTR) and Firestone Ag tire businesses.
Higgs was among FE‘s sources for our recent feature on tire technology, which you can read here.
