Firestone Building Products LLC announced that Bridgestone executive Taylor Cole has been named president, effective August 14. Cole succeeds Tim Dunn, current president, Firestone Building Products, who will retire Oct. 1 after more than 31 years with Firestone and its parent company, Bridgestone Americas. As president, Cole will lead the long-term growth strategy and planning for Firestone, overseeing all aspects of marketing, sales, technology and international business development.
“Tim’s leadership has been instrumental in growing Firestone Building Products into the organization it is today, and he has been a strong and visionary leader through his 31 years with Bridgestone,” said Bill Thompson, chief operating officer, Bridgestone Americas. “We are grateful for all of Tim’s contributions and welcome Taylor Cole, who brings years of leadership experience and strong vision to his new role, ensuring the continued success of our Building Products business.”
Cole joined Bridgestone in 2015 as president of commercial OTR tires. Prior to joining Bridgestone, he served as managing director of U.S. new equipment and aftermarket business units at Howden North America Inc. With extensive experience in manufacturing, engineering and end-to-end processes, Cole has also served in executive roles at Intergraph Corporation, Sandvik Mining and Construction and Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. in the U.S. and overseas. Cole received a bachelor’s degree in marine transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and earned an MBA from the University of Florida.
Dunn joined Bridgestone Americas in 1986 as a territory manager for consumer replacement tire, and held various leadership positions throughout his lengthy career, including director of national marketing and supply chain management and president of Firestone Fibers & Textiles before assuming his current role. Dunn’s vision for strategic, smart growth drove international expansion through the acquisition of the Giscosa ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) plant in Terrassa, Spain in 2013. Most recently, Dunn led the March 2017 acquisition of Gaco Western to enhance the company’s product portfolio and further position it as a leader among commercial roofers.