“Jean-Claude is a well-rounded executive with leadership experience in all of our regions and every aspect of our operations,” said Goodyear Chairman and CEO Richard J. Kramer. “As Goodyear’s chief technical officer, he led our technology and innovation progress and was responsible for research, development, engineering, and quality worldwide. He also has managed our Latin America strategic business unit, and has excelled at building customer relationships. We are convinced that Jean-Claude is the right leader to take our EMEA business to the next level of performance.”

Kihn, 56, joined Goodyear in 1988 at Goodyear’s Innovation Center in Luxembourg (GIC*L).  In 1991, he received his first foreign assignment at Goodyear’s Plant in Thailand. Later that year, he returned to Luxembourg to join the team responsible for developing tires for German auto manufacturers.  During that period, he was deeply involved in the development of the first fuel economy (silica) technology. In 1994, he moved to Akron to join the Commercial truck tire development team for Latin America.  In 1996, he returned to Luxembourg to lead truck tire development for Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa. In 2000, Kihn moved to Akron as Director Tire Technology – Latin America, and in 2002 he was named Director R&D Materials Science.  He was then named General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio in 2005. As of 2008, Kihn served as the company’s Senior Vice President & Chief Technical Officer before his nomination in 2012 as Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Goodyear Brazil. He was appointed President of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Latin America business in 2014.

Jean-Claude Kihn is a Chemical Engineer and has a Ph.D. from the University of Louvain, Belgium.  He is fluent in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.  He is a native of Luxembourg, married and has two children.