P.M. BRIEFING : Bridgestone Moving to Akron

The Bridgestone Corp. announced today that it is moving its North American headquarters to Akron, which means Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., which fled Akron in 1987, will be returning to the Rubber City.

Firestone, with corporate headquarters in Chicago, and Bridgestone USA Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., will be consolidated in Akron with Bridgestone Canada Inc., which will also move here.

“The consolidation of our major subsidiaries in North America,” Bridgestone President Akira Yeiri said, “will permit us to build upon the strengths of each of our organizations and enable us to speak with one voice to our customers, our suppliers and our employees.”

John J. Nevin, chairman and chief executive officer of Firestone, has been named chairman of the board of directors of Bridgestone-Firestone Inc.