Tomohiko Masuta has been appointed to the position of managing director of both Falken Tyre Europe and Sumitomo Rubber Europe.
Masuta joined Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 1985, first gaining experience in the product development department. In the 1990s he moved to the original equipment area of the business before being dispatched to support the development of the Dunlop brand in the European market. In 2015, he was appointed general manager of OE Tyre Business for SRI, with his most recent role being general manager of the Automotive System division.
In his new role, Masuta will oversee the SRI group companies in the EMEA region and Falken businesses in Europe, and is tasked with driving the growth of OE customer business in the region.
“I am proud to have contributed to the company’s success as a top supplier to Japanese OEMs, and I am excited to lead the business as we push to grow our European OE customers,” commented Masuta. “My personal motto is simply to ‘make the customer happy’. Together with this excellent team around me, we can provide the best products and services to ensure our customers are constantly satisfied, resulting in more premium vehicles factory-fitted with our tires and long-term stable profits for the company.”
He concluded, “As an avid car fan and motorsport enthusiast, it was my dream to join a company that supplies the automotive industry and has a competition pedigree. I have found and built my perfect career within SRI and its extended family of brands.”
