8-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 7, 2010

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	1-1927	34-0253240
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
1144 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio		44316-0001
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 330-796-2121

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 7, 2010, the Board of Directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company ("Goodyear") elected Richard J. Noechel as Vice President and Controller, effective March 1, 2011. Mr. Noechel succeeds Thomas A. Connell, who will retire from Goodyear, also effective March 1, 2011.

Mr. Noechel, 42, has been Vice President, Finance, North American Tire, since December 2008. He joined Goodyear in October 2004 as Assistant Controller. He was Chief Financial Officer of Goodyear’s South Pacific Tyre subsidiary in Australia from April 2006 to February 2008 and was Vice President and Controller from March 2008 to December 2008. Prior to joining Goodyear, Mr. Noechel was Vice President and Controller for Kmart Corporation from 2001 through 2004. He also previously worked for DaimlerChrysler and Price Waterhouse LLP.

Mr. Noechel will continue to participate in Goodyear's Performance Recognition Plan, Performance Plan and Executive Performance Plan, as well as the other benefit plans and progr ams that generally are available to Goodyear's executive officers and associates.

A copy of the news release announcing Mr. Noechel's appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 News Release, dated December 7, 2010

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
December 7, 2010	By:	David L. Bialosky
		Name: David L. Bialosky
		Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	News Release, dated December 7, 2010

EX-99.1

	News Release
Corporate Headquarters: 1144 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44316-0001	Media Website: www.GoodyearNewsRoom.com

CONTACT: Keith Price

330-796-1863

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Goodyear Announces Leadership Changes in Finance Organization

AKRON, Ohio, December 7, 2010 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced several changes in Finance leadership.

Richard J. Noechel, vice president of finance for North American Tire, has been elected vice president and controller, succeeding Thomas A. Connell, who plans to retire effective March 1, 2011.

Laura K. Thompson, currently vice president of business development, has been elected vice president of finance for North American Tire, succeeding Noechel.

David Campopiano, currently senior director of business development, will be promoted to vice president of business development, succeeding Thompson. All the changes will take effect on March 1, 2011.

“Tom has been an invaluable member of the company’s finance leadership team. He provided sound judgment and strong process discipline that has contributed enormously to Goodyear’s financial business processes, while also building our finance team globally,” said Darren R. Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Connell joined Goodyear as vice president and controller in 2003, after working 24 years in financial management positions at TRW Inc. He also was Goodyear’s chief information officer from February 2008 to April 2010.

Noechel began his career at Goodyear in 2004 as assistant controller. Two years later, he became chief financial officer of the company’s South Pacific Tyre subsidiary in Australia before returning to Akron in 2008. He was vice president and controller of Goodyear from March 2008 to December 2008, before assuming his role as vice president of finance for North American Tire. Prior to joining Goodyear, Noechel was vice president and controller for The Kmart Corp. from 2001 through 2004. He also worked for DaimlerChrysler in various positions and for Price Waterhouse LLP.

“Rick brings both a strong technical background and a depth of business knowledge to the role, having been part of both Goodyear’s North American and Asian businesses,” said Wells.

Thompson, was appointed vice president of business development in 2005, where she has been responsible for acquisition, divestiture and partnership activities in supporting Goodyear’s long-term strategies. She began her Goodyear career in 1983 and served in various financial and accounting positions, both in business units and corporate staff. She served as director of investor relations from 2000 to 2002 and most recently worked in North American Tire from 2002 to 2005, when she served as finance director for Consumer Tires and director of business development.

Curt J. Andersson, president of North American Tire, said, “We are pleased to have Laura back in North American Tire in the lead financial role, where her expertise and deep knowledge of Goodyear will be an asset.”

Wells added, “Laura is a strong and visible leader both internally and in representing Goodyear outside the company. She brings to her new role a depth of Goodyear knowledge as well as a strong market perspective from her prior business development and investor relations roles. We are fortunate to have Dave Campopiano, a highly experienced and talented business development professional, to step into this critical role.”

Campopiano has been senior director of business development since 2008, and was director of business development from 2005 to 2008. Prior to joining Goodyear, he spent 15 years at Ferro Corporation, including a period as vice president of mergers and acquisitions.

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs approximately 70,000 people and manufactures its products in 56 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com.

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