Hans Vrijsen is the new GM of Goodyear Dunlop UK

In the ongoing shuffling of management roles at Goodyear Dunlop, Marketing Director Consumer EMEA, Hans Vrijsen has been appointed as the new General Manager for Goodyear Dunlop UK. Vrijsen takes this new responsibility from Erich Fric, who is now been appointed as the Sales and Marketing Director for Western Europe.

Vrijsen has a wealth of experience in Sales and Marketing and has built a strong career working at various management positions. Vrijsen is expected to add a lot of value by leading the sales and marketing team to drive growth in UK and Ireland. Vrijsen started working at Goodyear in 2005 handling the role of marketing director Iberia. After that, he went on to take up various other senior sales and marketing positions in Spain, Belgium and Germany. In 2013, he was promoted from the position of Managing Director Original Equipment to Marketing Director Consumer EMEA. Before working at Goodyear, Vrijsen has held various sales and marketing position in the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) sector.

Vrijsen will be Goodyear Dunlop's sixth head since 2004. The company said that Fric, who held the position earlier, has stayed at his position a little longer than was initially planned. In 2013, around a year into his tenure, Fric said that "Three to four years is the norm for keeping a position".

Goodyear Dunlop UK stated, “We would like to thank Erich for his leadership in the UK and Ireland and wish him success in his new role." The company added that Vrijsen will work closely with Fric "to ensure a smooth transition of leadership responsibilities for Goodyear’s UK and Ireland businesses".

Vrijsen will take over the responsibilities at the time when the company is in consultation over the closure of its Wolverhampton mixing and rethreading plant. Goodyear Dunlop said the ongoing consultation will not be affected by the change in the leadership role.