Senior Management Changes

Tokyo (February 19, 2009) - Bridgestone Corporation announced today that its board of directors has approved the following proposals of the changes in members of the board of directors and corporate officers today.

  1. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Corporate Officers
    (Effective March 1, 2009)

    • Koki TAKAHASHI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Chief Financial Officer
      Finance
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Chief Financial Officer
      Finance;
      Concurrently Director, Internal Control Division

  2. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Corporate Officers
    (Effective March 13, 2009)

    • Sugio FUKUOKA
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Seconded to Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
      Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Assistant to Vice President and Senior Officer,
      Responsible for Diversified Products, Sports and Cycle Business Administration

  3. New Members of the Board of Directors
    (Subject to approval of Shareholders' Meeting on March 26, 2009)

    • Mikio MASUNAGA
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Member of the Board
      Responsible for Products Development
      Motorsport
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Responsible for Internal Manufacturing Management
      Internal Manufacturing Management
      Motorsport
    • Kazuo KAKEHI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Member of the Board
      Responsible for Diversified Products
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Responsible for Diversified Products

  4. Changing Position and Responsibilities of Members of the Board of Directors
    (Effective March 26, 2009)

    • Osamu INOUE
      New position and responsibilities:
      Senior Vice President
      Member of the Board
      Responsible for Global Logistics Center and Motorsport;
      Concurrently responsible for Quality Management
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Senior Vice President
      Member of the Board
      Responsible for Global Logistics Center and Motorsport;
      Concurrently responsible for Products Development

  5. New Substitution of Corporate Auditors
    (Subject to approval of Shareholders' Meeting on March 26, 2009)

    • Minoru UCHIDA
      New position and responsibilities:
      Substitute Member (Non-Executive)
      Board of Corporate Auditors Ltd

  6. Retiring Substitution of Corporate Auditors
    (Effective March 26, 2009)

    • Ikuo GUNJI
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Substitute Member (Non-Executive)
      Board of Corporate Auditors

  7. New Members of Corporate Officers
    (Effective March 26, 2009)

    • Naomi ETO
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      General Affairs and Corporate Communications;
      Concurrently Director, Corporate Communications Division
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Director, Corporate Communications Division
    • Yoichi SATO
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Quality;
      Concurrently Director, Tire Quality Assurance Division
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Director, Tire Quality Assurance Division;
      Concurrently General Manager, Quality Management Administration
      Department
    • Isaku MOTOHASHI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Global Production Administration and Logistics,
      Mold Technology and Manufacturing;
      Concurrently Director, Global Production Administration and
      Logistics Division
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Director, Tire Production and Distribution Administration Division

  8. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Corporate Officers
    (Effective March 26, 2009)

    • Yasumi KAWASAKI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Responsible for Japan Tire Production
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Responsible for Quality Management
      Quality
    • Kiyoshi NOMURA
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Senior Officer
      Responsible for Global Production Administration and Logistics,
      Procurement, Internal Manufacturing Management
      Internal Manufacturing Management
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Production and Distribution, Mold Technology and Manufacturing,
      Procurement
      Chief Information Officer
      IT & Network
    • Koki TAKAHASHI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Chief Financial Officer
      Finance
      Chief Information Officer
      IT & Network
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Chief Financial Officer
      Finance;
      Concurrently Director, Internal Control Division
    • Yoshiharu INOUE
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Safety and Environment
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Japan Tire Production

  9. Retiring Corporate Officers
    (Effective March 26, 2009)

    • Hiroshi YAMAGUCHI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Advisor
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Safety, Environment and Intellectual Property
    • Osamu MORI
      New position and responsibilities:
      Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone IPT Corporation
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Seconded to Bridgestone IPT Corporation
      Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone IPT Corporation
    • Sugio FUKUOKA
      New position and responsibilities:
      Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Assistant to Vice President and Senior Officer,
      Responsible for Diversified Products, Sports and Cycle Business Administration
    • Akira YAMASHITA
      New position and responsibilities:
      Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Tire Chubu Sales Co.,Ltd
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Seconded to Bridgestone Tire Chubu Sales Co.,Ltd
      Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Tire Chubu Sales Co.,Ltd

  10. Changing Positions and Responsibilities of Corporate Officers
    (Effective April 1, 2009)

    • Yasuo RYUTO
      New position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Original Equipment Tire Sales;
      Concurrently Director, O.E. Tire Sales Division
      Current position and responsibilities:
      Vice President and Officer
      Original Equipment Tire Sales

Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.