AKRON, Ohio, Dec.13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) announced two senior leadership appointments, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Jon Bellissimo, vice president, Americas Product Development and head of Goodyear Chemical, will become senior vice president, Global Operations & Technology. In his new role, Bellissimo will provide executive leadership for Goodyear's Global Engineering; Quality; Procurement; Manufacturing and Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability; Sales & Operations Planning and Project Management functions.

Bellissimo brings four decades of experience in the design, development and manufacturing of Goodyear products, having served in a variety of functional and operational roles at the regional and global levels. In addition to his product development leadership within the Americas and Goodyear's Chemical business, Bellissimo served as the director of Goodyear's Innovation Center in Akron and has played an integral role in manufacturing plant startups around the world. 

Under Bellissimo's leadership, Goodyear North America developed, industrialized and manufactured some of the most successful tires in its history, including the Assurance WeatherReady. Bellissimo succeeds Joe Zekoski, who will retire after a career of nearly 40 years at Goodyear.

Laura Duda, vice president, Americas Communications, will become senior vice president, Global Communications and Chief Communications Officer, leading all aspects of Goodyear's global communications, including media relations, associate communications, corporate reputation, philanthropy, community relations and the company's fleet of world-famous airships.

Duda joined Goodyear in 2016 with nearly two decades of strategic communications leadership experience in the energy industry. Immediately prior, she led corporate, utility and commercial communications for Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, one of the largest energy companies in the United States. Duda succeeds Paul Fitzhenry, who is returning to the East Coast to join his family and pursue his next opportunity after serving as Goodyear's Chief Communications Officer since 2012. Fitzhenry will remain with Goodyear through the first quarter of 2019 to ensure a smooth transition.

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Richard J. Kramer said, "I am excited to welcome Jon and Laura to Goodyear's senior leadership team. They are proven leaders who will bring both innovative thinking and deep industry knowledge that will position Goodyear for the future."

"At the same time, I want to express my gratitude for the contributions of both Joe Zekoski and Paul Fitzhenry. Their tireless work and commitment to Goodyear has had a lasting impact on our associates and helped position our company for ongoing success."

Bellissimo and Duda will report directly to Kramer.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 47 facilities in 21 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/corporate.

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SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company