The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has named David Phillips as its new senior vice president and general counsel, effective June 4. Phillips was associate GC for Americas at the Akron, Ohio-based tire-making giant for the past three years.

Phillips replaces David Bialosky, who is retiring after 10 years at Goodyear. Bialosky will remain with the company as an officer through a transition period until his retirement date of Sept. 30, according to a company statement announcing the move Tuesday.

Through a company spokesperson, Phillips declined to comment on his new job at this time, preferring to wait until his role becomes official in June.

Phillips joined Goodyear as senior legal counsel for finance and real estate in June 2011 and ascended to his current position in May 2016. He has served in a leadership role on several key company initiatives, including the launch of TireHub, its distribution joint venture, the company said.

Prior to Goodyear, he was a banking and finance associate at Jones Day. A graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, he began his legal career as an associate at Thompson Hine, according to his LinkedIn profile.

As Goodyear's top lawyer, Phillips will inherit a number of pending legal matters disclosed in the company's report for fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2018, including:

  • Asbestos-related litigation that cost the company $13 million last year;
  • A $137 million wrongful termination claim brought by about 850 former employees of the closed Amiens, France, manufacturing facility against Goodyear Dunlop Tires France;
  • A shareholder's derivative action seeking unspecified money damages and alleging breach of fiduciary duties, waste of corporate assets and fraudulent concealment in connection with certain G159 tires that Goodyear manufactured from 1996 until 2003; and
  • “Various other legal actions, indirect tax assessments, claims and governmental investigations and proceedings covering a wide range of matters, including claims and proceedings relating to several waste disposal sites that have been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and similar agencies of various states for remedial investigation and cleanup.”

In the announcement of Phillips' promotion, Goodyear chairman, CEO and president Richard Kramer cited Phillips' ability to “expand on the world class law organization Dave Bialosky established.”

He also expressed appreciation for Bialosky's “enduring legacy at Goodyear, reflected in the caliber of his team and the strong leadership we have in place for the future.”

Goodyear also announced Tuesday that senior legal counsel and assistant secretary Dan Young will become secretary and associate GC.

Young, who joined Goodyear in 2007, handles securities law, finance, corporate governance and executive compensation matters, as well as support for the board of directors, according to the company statement.