Bridgestone appoints new global ceo, Morita to succeed Ishibashi

Bridgestone Corporation announced a change in its representative executive officer and global ceo, effective January 1, 2026. Hirofumi Morita will succeed Shuichi Ishibashi, who is set to retire as representative executive officer on December 31, 2025, and as a director upon the conclusion of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders in March 2026. The change aims to rejuvenate top management and accelerate growth towards the company's 100th anniversary in 2031.

Morita, 52, joined Bridgestone in 1996 and brings extensive international experience. His career includes serving as managing director for Thai Bridgestone Co., Ltd. from 2016, managing director for Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. from 2018, and ceo for Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. from 2023. He became an executive officer in 2024 and will serve as representative executive officer and vice president in 2025 before assuming the global ceo role.

In 2025, Morita held dual roles as global chief administration officer and global chief strategy officer, overseeing various critical functions including quality management, finance, HR, sustainability, digital, and supply chain. He currently holds 4,200 shares in the company. Details regarding the global management execution structure for 2026 will be announced separately.