Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMIA) has formally appointed current Group CEO of Bridgestone South Africa Jacques Fourie as its new managing director of operations in the Middle East and Africa region.
The tyre brand has also confirmed that Fourie will assume his new role on January 1, 2023.
Fourie brings over 21 years of experience and joined the Bridgestone Group in 2019 as the Group CEO for its South African operations. He has been instrumental in delivering a culture of transformation across the company, which led to restored profitability, market share growth, certification as a Top Employer and BBB-EE level 1 contributor (a transformational program by the South African government that addresses inequality) and the acquisition of the mining solutions company Otraco into Bridgestone EMIA.
As well as taking on his new role, Fourie will continue his position as the Group CEO of Southern Africa holdings – which includes BSAF, Supa Quick, Otraco, and Bandag.
“I am delighted to oversee the Middle East and Africa divisions. Leading Bridgestone South Africa has been a rewarding experience, and I have been proud of the division’s growth, and the commitment of the teams towards its development,” Fourie commented.
“We have witnessed challenging times in the past few years, and despite these challenges, I am pleased to see fruitful results of our hard work. I look forward to contributing to the efforts of Bridgestone MEA to position itself a leading global mobility solutions provider and will dedicate my expertise to further develop the company by delivering high-quality solutions to customers.”
Fourie takes over from Stefano Sanchini, previous VP of Bridgestone MEA, and will spearhead the company’s operations in the Middle East and Africa region, integrating the two regions under one leadership.
According to Bridgestone, the recent change in leadership roles reflects the company’s commitment to transform its respective business divisions, while integrating them into Bridgestone EMIA. The company has successfully recognised leaders that have achieved positive results and demonstrated leadership quality by mitigating unprecedented challenges.
