Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia sales director Andy Davies has taken over as managing director of the business and key technology arm Otraco International following Tadashi Masamune’s relocation to Tokyo to take up a new corporate role.
Davies started at Bridgestone in the UK in 1996 and has held numerous leadership positions in the group, including CEO of Bridgestone Aircraft Tyre Company when he was based in Hong Kong. He was sales director of the Off-the-Road (OTR) tyre business from 2023. That role has been taken up by Paul Brown, previously general manager west for Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia.
BMSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Bridgestone Corporation, a major manufacturer and supplier of on and off-road tyres.
Bridgestone acquired Australian-based OTR management leader Otraco International in 2021 for A$79 million. Its then 860-strong workforce is said to have expanded to more than 1000 people in Australia, Chile and southern Africa.
Otraco’s digital Otracom tyre management system is regarded in mining circles as best of breed.
