Bridgestone New Zealand business director and tyre industry stalwart John Staples has announced his retirement after more than four decades with the company.
Staples will depart at the end of March next year and will be succeeded by Bridgestone Australia retail operations general manager Jon Tamblyn who commences in January.
Staples says the timing was right for a changing of the guard as he reflected on his 44-year career with the firm.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and support I’ve received throughout my career at Bridgestone. It’s been an honour to lead our New Zealand business and to work with such dedicated teammates and loyal customers.
“I have full confidence that Jon Tamblyn will continue to drive the business forward with the same passion and commitment that has always been at the heart of the Bridgestone New Zealand team,” he says.
Staples held numerous positions within the business since his journey began in 1981. He rose through the ranks, holding pivotal roles in retread management, store management, and field sales prior to entering the New Zealand head office as commercial products manager in 1995.
He continued to show leadership through significant milestones in Bridgestone New Zealand’s history such as the merger of Firestone and Bridgestone, the development of the Firestone retail channel and further transformation to Bridgestone Select and Bridgestone Tyre Centres, the acquisition of Tony’s Tyre Service, and the successful integration of Bridgestone New Zealand’s operations with Bridgestone Australia.
He also led Bridgestone through industry partnerships such as the Green Compact with road freight body Transporting NZ which laid out a roadmap to decarbonising commercial road transport by 2050. He also helped Bridgestone, along with other industry representatives, welcome in New Zealand’s first nationally regulated product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres, known as Tyrewise.
Bridgestone Australia and NZ managing director Heath Barclay says Tamblyn’s experience and leadership makes him the ideal successor to Staples.
“John Staples has been a significant contributor to the New Zealand business, it was never going to be a simple feat to replace him, but Jon Tamblyn brings the ideal mix of knowledge, passion and innovation to the role,” Barclay says.
