AKRON, Ohio, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) announced today that Gregory A. Fritz has joined the company as vice president, investor relations.  He will report to Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

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Fritz previously served as assistant treasurer and senior director, investor relations for Whirlpool Corporation.  

Prior to joining Whirlpool in 2007, Fritz was director of corporate finance and business planning and analysis at Stoneridge, Inc.  He was a senior research analyst at Midwest Research from 2000 to 2002 and a research associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from 1997 to 2000, where he covered the automotive industry.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Oakland University in 1997 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business in 2006.

Fritz will succeed Patrick R. Stobb, who has been named to a senior finance position in Goodyear's North American Tire business.  Stobb has had responsibility for the company's investor relations since 2008.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies.  It employs approximately 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 55 facilities in 22 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com.

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company