巨头变阵！普利司通高层大换血

Core Viewpoint - Bridgestone is undergoing significant management restructuring and global business reorganization to enhance its core tire business competitiveness in response to a volatile business environment, aiming for a solid foundation by its 100th anniversary in 2031 [1][10] Management Restructuring - A new executive management structure will be implemented on March 24, 2026, focusing on strengthening management in the East and West business regions and optimizing functional divisions [2][12] - Key appointments include Shinjiro Tamura as Representative Executive Officer and CEO of the East region, and Scott Damon as Executive Officer and CEO of the West region, with a notable shift away from global digital transformation responsibilities [2][12] - Additional key roles have been filled with Hiroshi Imai as Chief Product Officer, Yoshihiko Sai as Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Tomohiro Kusano as Chief Innovation Officer, while former Executive Vice President Masato Sakano will retire [3][15] Asset Optimization - Bridgestone is accelerating its global asset reduction plan, announcing the sale of its tire reinforcement materials business in China and Thailand for €60 million, expected to close in the first half of 2026 [4][16] - The sale includes long-term supply agreements to ensure a stable supply of high-quality tire reinforcement materials, marking a critical part of the company's mid-term business plan (2024-2026) [4][16] Strategic Shift - The company is transitioning from a "scale expansion" strategy to a "profit-first" approach due to rising raw material costs, increased competition in Asia, and weak demand [6][17][19] - Recent operational adjustments include the closure of factories in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, as well as the sale of non-core businesses [6][17] Financial Performance - Despite a slight decline in global sales to ¥44,290 billion in 2025, adjusted operating profit increased by 2% to ¥4,940 billion, driven by restructuring and cost-cutting measures [8][20] - Regional performance highlights include a 2% revenue and profit increase in the Asia-Pacific region, a 42% profit increase in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and a 6% profit increase in Japan [8][20]