Joe Ruocco has been named senior vice president of human resources, effective Aug. 1, for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Ruocco, a 23-year GE veteran, will provide strategic direction and business leadership for Goodyear's global human resources operations. He also will serve as a member of Goodyear's core leadership team, reporting directly to Goodyear Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Keegan. "Joe has a wealth of experience in HR leadership positions with GE, an obvious global leader in the area of human resource management," says Keegan. "We believe he is an excellent addition to our leadership team as we continue to build on Goodyear's reputation as an innovative and globally admired company." Ruocco, 48, joined GE in 1985 as a member of the HR Leadership Program and following graduation moved into HR leadership roles of increasing responsibility and breadth in the company's Aircraft Engines, Medical Systems, Plastics and Corporate operations. In October 1999, he was named Senior Human Resources Manager for GE Lighting in Cleveland, a role he held until December 2002. He then was named Vice President, Human Resources for GE Industrial Systems and appointed a GE company officer. He was named Vice President of Human Resources, GE Consumer & Industrial when Consumer Products and GE Industrial Systems merged in December 2003. GE Consumer & Industrial is a $15 billion global business that employs 55,000 people in more than 100 countries, and is an industry leader in major appliance and lighting products, and in integrated electrical distribution equipment and systems. His role was expanded in December 2006 to include HR responsibility for GE's Industrial segment, which at the time was a $35 billion division of GE with approximately 100,000 employees. Ruocco holds a bachelor of science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and an MBA from Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. "I am excited to join the team and to help Goodyear achieve its strategic business objectives," Ruocco aYA. Ruocco replaces Kathy Geier, who in May announced that she would be retiring after 30 years with Goodyear. Geier was appointed Goodyear's senior vice president of human resources in 2002 after serving in a number of increasingly important HR roles throughout the organization, including director of human resources for the company's Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East region. "Kathy was a valued member of the leadership team during Goodyear's historic turnaround," says Keegan. "During her tenure, Goodyear created an outstanding leadership team and base of business talent." For more information, visit www.goodyear.com. |