Bridgestone

Bridgestone Americas, Inc was founded as 株式会社ブリヂストン, aka Kabushiki-gaisha Burijisuton, on March 1, 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi, in Kurume, Japan. Bridgestone purchased Firestone in 1988 for $2.6 billion, becoming Bridgestone's largest subsidiary. The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company was founded in August, 1900 in Akron, Ohio. Now the two companies' combined operations form the world's largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone is a privately held company. It has been headquartered in Nashville since 1992. Bridgestone and Firestone combined had over $32 billion in revenue in 2011.

"Tires are the largest part of Bridgestone Americas’ business, accounting for approximately 80 percent of annual revenues. BATO develops, manufactures and markets tires for almost every kind of vehicle. In fact, the company sells more than 8,000 different types and sizes of tires — from a 13-foot-tall giant radial for earthmoving equipment to a kart tire that stands only 10 inches high.

In addition to tires, BSA is also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere, and is recognized internationally for producing a variety of quality products, including building and industrial materials, natural rubber, and industrial fibers and textiles," the company's website states. Bridgestone, "Who We Are", organizational website, accessed February 6, 2013

Ties to Pete Peterson's "Fix the Debt"
The Campaign to Fix the Debt is the latest incarnation of a decades-long effort by former Nixon man turned Wall Street billionaire Pete Peterson to slash earned benefit programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid under the guise of fixing the nation's "debt problem."

This article is part of the Center for Media and Democracy's investigation of Pete Peterson's Campaign to "Fix the Debt." Please visit our main SourceWatch page on Fix the Debt.

Executive Management
As of February 2013:
 * Gary A. Garfield - Chairman, CEO, President
 * Eduardo Minardi - COO
 * Tim Walsh - CIO
 * Darrin Rohr - Chief Human Resource Officer
 * Kenneth Weaver - Executive Vice President
 * Larry Magee
 * Hideo "Hank" Hara - Chief Technology Officer

Contact details
535 Marriot Drive P.O. Box 140990 Nashville, TN 37214-0990

Phone: (615) 937-1000 Website: www.bridgestoneamericas.com

Featured SourceWatch Articles on Fix the Debt

 * Fix the Debt Portal Page
 * Fix the Debt's Leadership
 * Fix the Debt's Partner Groups
 * Fix the Debt's State Chapters
 * Fix the Debt's Lobbyists
 * Fix the Debt's Parent Group
 * Fix the Debt's Corporations
 * Pete Peterson
 * Peter G. Peterson Foundation
 * America Speaks
 * Simpson-Bowles Commission
 * Erskine Bowles
 * Alan Simpson
 * Social Security
 * Medicare
 * Medicaid