Dunlop Tires North America (DTNA), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, has appointed Robert Liu as assistant vice president of product management. The company said Liu will help steer the Dunlop and Falken brands into their next phase of product innovation and growth.
Liu brings more than 30 years of experience in the tire and automotive industries. He began his career as a simulation engineer at General Motors before spending 27 years at Continental Tire, where he held roles in product research and development, sales and product management.
His Continental Tire tenure included five years in Shanghai as an expatriate, leading product management and R&D for the Asia-Pacific region. Most recently, he led R&D for the American region, with a focus on replacement passenger light truck (PLT) tires.
In his new role, Liu will spearhead product development at DTNA and oversee PLT and truck and bus radial (TBR) products with the company's product management team. The company said the position is intended to ensure it provides the market with compelling solutions.
Ken Hsu, DTNA's vice president of marketing, said the company was excited to welcome Liu. Hsu said Liu's experience and leadership in the tire industry align with DTNA's goals for innovation and growth, and that his insights are expected to benefit product strategies.