Jim MacMaster, Yokohama Tire Corp. executive vice president and chief operating officer, will retire June 30 after 39 years in the tire industry. MacMaster, who also served as chairman of the Rubber Manufacturers Association from 2007 to 2009, began his career with a three-year stint in the Navy, followed by work in the defense and computer industries and then 10 years on the manufacturing and dealer side of the tire business. He ultimately joined Yokohama in January 1981.
During his 30-year tenure at Yokohama – the U.S. flagship for Tokyo, Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) – the organization grew from a $30 million company to nearly $1 billion and is now the seventh-largest tire manufacturer in the world.
“Jim has held nearly every leadership position at YTC, where he has been the foundation and the face of our company,” says Takao Oishi, YTC president and chief executive officer. “We all will deeply miss his keen insights and industry knowledge. On behalf of everybody at YTC and YRC, we are proud to have been associated with Jim and honored that he chose to be part of the Yokohama family for so many years.”
