Oct 1, 2003 12:00 PM

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) has realigned its business units. Effective June 1, 2003, BFNT will consist of four operational business units: Consumer Replacement Tire, Consumer OE (original equipment) Tire, Truck and Bus Tires, and Off-Road Products. Each unit is supported by BFNT's Manufacturing and Technology and Administrative Services groups. Assigned to each of the company's four marketing and sales units are:

• John Gamauf, president — Consumer Replacement Tire. Previously vice-president of consumer tire dealer sales, he is a 32-year veteran of the company.

• Mike Martini, president — Consumer OE Tire. Most recently, he was vice-president — North American consumer tire, OE sales.

• Singh Ahluwalia, president — Truck and Bus Tires. His most recent position was vice-president — truck tire sales.

• Ralph Burchfield, president — Off-Road Products. Since 2000, he has served as president of Firestone Agricultural Co (FSAG).

Leaders of the three units that comprise the Manufacturing and Technology group remain unchanged and are: Masao Wada, executive vice-president — manufacturing operations; Hank Hara, executive vice-president — tire development and technology; and Itsuo Miyake, president — research. Each reports to Yas Kawaguchi, president — Manufacturing and Technology, who reports to Mark Emkes, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of BFNT.

The company also announced that sales engineering, headed by David Laubie, and supply, planning, and sourcing, led by Kevin Terada, will report to Emkes.