Charles J. Pilliod, Jr.
| Charles J. Pilliod Jr. | |
|---|---|
right, on Air Force One in 1988
|
|
| United States Ambassador to Mexico | |
|
In office November 4, 1986 – April 7, 1989 |
|
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | John Gavin |
| Succeeded by | John D. Negroponte |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 20, 1918 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 18, 2016 (aged 97) |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy J. Conley |
| Alma mater |
Muskingum College; Kent State University |
| Occupation | Diplomat, Executive |
Charles J. Pilliod Jr. (October 20, 1918 – April 18, 2016) was an American business executive and diplomat. He was ambassador to Mexico from 1986 to 1989.
Pilliod served in World War II from 1942 to 1945 as a pilot in the 20th Air Force. He flew the Boeing B-29 Superfortress over China and Japan.
Pilliod was the CEO of the Goodyear tire company from 1974 to 1983. Pillion began his career at Goodyear in 1941 as a trainee, where he worked double shifts and enrolled in management training courses. His first promotion came within a year, when he was chosen to supervise production of fuel tanks for military aircraft. He eventually moved to export sales, living in Panama, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and England.
When Pilliod became CEO in 1974, he faced a major investment decision regarding the radial tire, which today has a market share of near 100%. As a result of his actions, today only Goodyear, of the five biggest U.S. tire firms, remains independent.
At the time, the U.S. tire industry built tires based on bias ply technology, dating to 1888. In 1946, Michelin developed the radial tire method of construction, which quickly spread in France, Michelin's home country. Because of its superiority in treadlife, handling, safety from blowouts, and fuel economy, use of this technology quickly spread throughout Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the bias-ply tire construction persisted, caused by tire and automobile manufacturers in America "concerned about transition costs." In 1968, Consumer Reports, an influential American magazine, acknowledged the superiority of radial construction, and in 1971 the Lincoln Continental Mark III became the first American made car with standard OEM radial tires.
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