Goodyear officially announces a major executive leadership change today. Specifically, the Board of Directors elects Joe Hinrichs as its new chairman, effective October 7, 2026. Hinrichs will also lead both the Governance and Executive Committees for the organization. Previously, Goodyear added Hinrichs to its board of directors in 2023. Hinrichs replaces Laurette Koellner, who will be retiring at the 2027 annual general meeting of shareholders. Laurette Koellner is retiring in strict compliance with corporate governance policies.
Moreover, Hinrichs is an experienced executive in the field of global industries. Prior to CSX Corporation, Hinrichs was the president and CEO of CSX Corporation. Prior to CSX Corporation, Hinrichs had a very successful career in various positions at Ford Motor Company. Specifically, Hinrichs served as president of Global Automotive Business and executive vice president of Global Operations. Additionally, Hinrichs served as president of the Americas and president of Asia Pacific and Africa. Earlier, Hinrichs acted as chairman and CEO of Ford China and CEO of Ford Canada. Academically, Hinrichs holds an electrical engineering degree from Dayton and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Honoring Past Service and Building Future Resilience
Meanwhile, outgoing chairman Laurette Koellner leaves behind a strong corporate legacy. Previously, Koellner held several senior executive roles at The Boeing Company. Subsequently, Goodyear elected Koellner to the board in 2015. Later, Koellner became independent Lead Director in 2019 and non-executive chairman in 2024. Therefore, her long tenure provided steady governance through key strategic transformations.
“I would like to recognize and thank Laurette for her leadership, dedication and unwavering commitment to Goodyear. On behalf of the Board, we are grateful for her many contributions throughout her more than a decade of service,” said Hinrichs. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members and the leadership team as we continue to innovate, strengthen our competitive position, create long-term value for our shareholders and build a stronger Goodyear.”
Consequently, Goodyear positions itself for sustained operational momentum under Hinrichs. Furthermore, Goodyear continues driving industry innovation across global automotive markets. Ultimately, Goodyear remains focused on enhancing competitive performance and delivering value to shareholders worldwide.
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Source: PRNewswire
