Bridgestone names Michele Herlein West Chief People Officer to lead global HR and advance Culture 2.0 for empowered, engaged teams.
Bridgestone Americas has announced the appointment of Michele Herlein as its new Chief People Officer, West, effective January 2026. In this role, Herlein will lead the human resources function across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a strong, people-centered culture and driving organizational performance.
Herlein returns to Bridgestone with more than two decades of leadership experience and a deep background in culture transformation, leadership development, and succession planning. She previously held senior leadership roles at Bridgestone Americas and Bandag, Inc., where she played a key role in shaping people and culture strategies.
“Michele brings a unique perspective and strong leadership presence that will add tremendous value to our West leadership team and the broader organization,” said Scott Damon, Bridgestone West CEO and Group President of Bridgestone Americas. “We are excited to welcome her back as we continue advancing our culture and people initiatives.”
A key priority for Herlein will be accelerating Bridgestone’s Culture 2.0 initiative, designed to foster greater teammate empowerment, collaboration, and accountability across the organization.
Beyond her corporate leadership experience, Herlein is a published author and recognized authority on building organizational cultures that support sustainable business success. Most recently, she served as Founder and CEO of CultureMax and previously held the roles of Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Human Resource Officer at Barge Design Solutions, Inc. She is also a co-founder of Impact100 Nashville, a community organization through which women have contributed more than $1.2 million in grants to local nonprofits.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, delivering solutions that enable safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the company employs more than 45,000 people worldwide and offers a broad portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions supported by innovative technologies that enhance the way people move, live, work, and play.
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