USTMA Names Michelin’s Alexis Garcin As Board Chair

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) announced the election of Alexis Garcin as Chairman of the Board of Directors, for a two-year term starting October 11, 2023. Garcin is President and CEO of Michelin North America, Inc.

Garcin succeeds Paolo Ferrari, President and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., who served as USTMA’s Board chair since 2021. Garcin was elected during a formal vote at the Association’s first board meeting of its 2024 fiscal year on October 11, 2023.

“Alexis brings decades of global leadership experience to the helm of the U.S. tire manufacturing industry at a significant turning point for both tire safety and environmental sustainability,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA President and CEO. “His work will build on the strong contributions of our outgoing Chair, Paolo Ferrari, who saw USTMA through a critical post-COVID recovery and championed major new, innovative approaches to our industry’s joint efforts to develop more sustainable products.”

Garcin joined Michelin in 2002 and became chairman and president of Michelin North America in 2019. Previously, he served in numerous roles in France, Switzerland, Germany and now in the U.S.

“I am very honored to serve as chairman of the USTMA board at a time of transformation in the tire industry,” said Garcin. “Since joining the board four years ago, I have witnessed firsthand how the USTMA is driving progress toward a safe, sustainable and innovative tire industry, and I look forward to continuing this journey with my fellow USTMA leaders.”

USTMA has also elected two new members to the Board of Directors: David K. Chapman of Michelin North America and James Tsai of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas.

Chapman is currently Vice President of Public Affairs for Michelin North America, overseeing public policy efforts in both the U.S. and Canada. He previously ran Michelin’s government and defense sales business. Chapman joined Michelin after a distinguished 30-year career in the U.S. Army, where he held leadership roles throughout his service, including command of the Defense Language Institute’s Foreign Language Center in Monterrey, California.

Tsai is General Counsel and Secretary of Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. (TTHA), the holding company for the North American operations of Toyo Tire Corporation of Itami, Japan. Tsai has served in his current role since 2016 and joined the TTHA legal department in 2011. Prior to joining TTHA, he worked in private practice for 15 years specializing in corporate law. He is a member of the bar in Illinois, California and Washington, D.C.