Biographies: Goodyear

Jean-Claude Kihn

Kihn joined Goodyear in 1988 at the company's Technical Center in Luxembourg (GTC*L) as a compounder working in consumer tires and later in bias truck tires for Asia. In 1991, he received his first foreign assignment as Chief Chemist in Thailand.

Later that year, he returned to GTC*L as a member of the German OE team. During that period, silica compound technology was launched by competition and he was deeply involved in the development of the first full silica compound for Goodyear.

In 1994, he moved to Akron to join the Radial Medium Truck tire team for Latin America. In 1996, he returned to GTC*L as a Team Leader in the Radial Medium Truck Tire product group, later becoming the group's manager.

In 2000, Kihn moved to Akron as Director, Tire Technology - Latin America, and in 2002 he was named Director Research & Development Compound Science.

Kihn was named Managing Director of Goodyear Peru in 2003, and named to his previous position in 2005.

Kihn is a Chemical Engineer and has a Ph.D. from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He is fluent in English, French, German, Spanish and Luxembourgish. He is a native of Luxembourg, married to Brigitte; they have two children.

Jesse S. Roeck

Jesse Roeck was named Director, Global Materials Science for The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company effective April 1, 2007. In this role, Roeck is responsible for polymer development, raw material and reinforcement approvals, tire compound development, analytical and physical testing -- supporting all tire development world wide.

Roeck joined Goodyear in August 2004 and held the position of Director of Tire Development in Luxembourg until June, 2006, when he was named Director of Technical Projects in Akron, Ohio.

Previously, Roeck had been Global R&D Director of the Polystyrene Business from 1999 until 2004 for the Dow Chemical Company. He first joined Dow Chemical in 1980 and held a variety of R&D leadership positions. In 1993, he was named Lab Director in Freeport, TX, and his role was expanded in 1994 to include global R&D leadership of the Global Ethyleneamines business. In 1995, Roeck moved to Midland, Michigan and became the Director of Dow’s Analytical Laboratory. In 1996 that role was expanded to Global R&D Director of Dow’s Analytical Laboratories.

Born February 2, 1958, Roeck is a native of Kiel, WI and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

He and his wife Carol have two children, Andy and Erin.