New Bridgestone Americas CEO Mark Emkes '75 Profiled in Hometown Paper

January 10, 2004

January 10, 2004, Greencastle, Ind. - When Mark Emkes graduated from high school and headed to college at DePauw University, "he knew he wanted to go into business," writes Aubrey Woods in today's edition of the Daily Tribune, published in the Emkes' hometown. "Little did he know that he would one day be called upon to head an $8 billion business with almost 50,000 employees. 'Realistically, I had a dream, but not this big,' Emkes said Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. announced Emkes would become its chief executive officer and chairman April 1."

Emkes, who the story notes is a 1975 graduate of DePauw, tells the newspaper, “I'm kind of flattered. It's a neat thing that's happening and a big responsibility.” Woods adds, "As head of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc., Emkes will oversee four limited liability corporations, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations (the company's retail arm with 22,000 stores and based in Chicago), Bridgestone/Firestone Latin American and Bridgestone/Firestone Diversified Products (based in Carmel). From 2000 to 2002, Emkes was in charge of the company's Latin American operations and he has spent the past two years as president, chairman and CEO of the North American tire operations."

Mark Emkes draws praise in the article from Seymour Fire Chief Fred Hines, who ran cross country and track with Emkes at Seymour High School. “You could not have a better person for your child to look up to and model their life after,” Hines said. “He's had to work all over the world to get where he's at.”

You can read the entire story at the Daily Tribune's Web site by clicking here. Read the article on the appointment of Mark Emkes, posted two days ago, here.

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