Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) announced Jeff Barna joined the company Jan.16 as chief operating officer. Barna will report to Shinichi Takimoto, YTC president, and will have responsibility for sales, marketing and product planning. Barna will also be on YTC’s executive committee.
According to Hideto Katsuragawa, CEO of Yokohama Corporation of North America and CEO of YTC, “Jeff is another strategic investment in the future of Yokohama Tire Corporation in the American market, like our modern manufacturing plant in Mississippi, new and upgraded distribution centers, new R&D technical center in North Carolina, stream of new products in the consumer, commercial and OTR space, and commitment to expanded OE partnerships.”
Takimoto praised Barna’s extensive experience in the auto aftermarket business. “Jeff sold a range of products to many of the same high-quality companies that Yokohama sells to,” he said. “Jeff will work closely with our team to strengthen Yokohama and make us more valuable to our business partners. His experience starting at the street level of the auto parts business, to broader areas of responsibility, and right up to the board rooms of multi-national companies is a perfect match for today’s competitive business climate and our lean team.”
