SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 26, 2025 - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is reshaping its senior leadership structure from January 1, 2026, sharpening its focus on tire production efficiency, advanced materials development, and growth in China and Asia across both tire and industrial product lines. The new appointments consolidate operational responsibility around key associates, signaling a push toward tighter coordination between manufacturing, R&D and regional business development.
Strengthening leadership around tire production and investment planning
At the core of the changes is an expanded remit for Tatsuya Ito, who remains Associate Officer and Deputy Head of the Tire Production Division while adding responsibility as Head of Tire Business Development Investment Planning Department alongside his current role as Head of Tire Production Planning. This dual mandate places Ito at the intersection of day-to-day manufacturing planning and longer-term capital allocation.
By combining production planning and investment oversight, Yokohama can better align factory utilization, automation projects and capacity expansion with demand from global OEMs and replacement markets. For fleet customers and distributors, this structure is designed to support more reliable supply, shorter lead times and a clearer link between product roadmap decisions and real-world availability in key tire segments.
Materials technologies at the center of future product performance
The company is also elevating materials science within its R&D leadership. Hidekazu Onoi continues as Associate Officer and Executive Fellow in the Research & Advanced Development Division, but his remit shifts from the Tire Materials Development Dept. No. 2 to the broader Materials Technologies Department.
This change reflects how compound innovation now spans tires and other rubber-based products, from rolling-resistance-optimized tread for EVs to longer-life industrial materials. Consolidating materials expertise under a single department head enables faster translation of lab advances into production compounds and supports cross-fertilization between different product lines, including high-performance tires, commercial tires and specialty applications.
Deepening focus on conveyor belt and industrial products in China and Asia
The appointment of Shigehiko Amano confirms the strategic weight of Yokohama's industrial products business in Asia. Amano continues as Associate Officer in charge of conveyor belts in China and Asia and retains senior board roles as:
- Chairman of Shandong Yokohama Rubber Industrial Products Co., Ltd.
- Chairman and President of Yokohama Industrial Products Sales - Shanghai Co., Ltd.
- Vice Chairman of Yokohama Rubber (China) Co., Ltd.
By keeping these responsibilities consolidated, Yokohama is reinforcing its regional leadership structure around conveyor belts and industrial products in one of the world's most dynamic infrastructure and manufacturing markets. For customers in mining, heavy industry, ports and logistics, this continuity supports long-term project planning, localized service and closer coordination between production sites and on-the-ground sales organizations.
Manufacturing excellence and processing technology as competitive levers
On the manufacturing technology side, Atsushi Tanaka remains Associate Officer and Deputy Head of the Tire Production Division and Head of the Tire Mass Production Processing Technology Department, while continuing as President of Hama Gomu Engineering Co., Ltd. His focus on mass production processing underlines Yokohama's emphasis on plant efficiency, quality, and scalable process innovation across its tire factories.
Coupling divisional leadership with the helm of a specialized engineering subsidiary allows Tanaka to drive implementation of new processing methods-from automation and digital quality monitoring to equipment upgrades-directly into production lines. For OEM and replacement customers, this can translate into more consistent product performance, tighter tolerances, and enhanced responsiveness when new tire specifications are required.
What the leadership changes signal to customers and partners
Taken together, the management adjustments are less a reshuffle and more a targeted reinforcement of Yokohama's operating model in three areas:
- Integrated production and investment decisions in the tire business to support profitable growth and capacity planning.
- Stronger materials and advanced technology leadership to underpin next-generation tire and rubber products.
- Focused regional governance in China and Asia for conveyor belts and industrial products, reflecting sustained demand in infrastructure and heavy industry.
For OEMs, fleet operators, distributors and industrial customers, the new structure aims to ensure that product innovation, manufacturing execution and regional go-to-market strategies are more tightly aligned as Yokohama prepares for the next phase of growth in 2026 and beyond.
Learn more about Yokohama Rubber's global activities and product portfolio at https://www.y-yokohama.com/global/.