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Bill Hopkins was named Vice President, Advanced Concepts for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on January 1, 2008. Previously, he was the company's Vice President for Technology and Strategic Initiatives.
Hopkins earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming. He joined Goodyear as an Engineering Trainee in 1967. He later became a Tire Designer and, in 1973, Chief Engineer for Passenger Tires. In 1978, he was named Chief Engineer for International Auto Tire Development at Goodyear's Luxembourg Technical Center.
Four years later, he returned to Akron, where he led the company's radial race tire development program. In 1986, he became Manager, Light Truck Tire Engineering, where he was instrumental in the expansion of Goodyear's Wrangler line of light truck tires. Hopkins was named Marketing Manager, Light Truck Tires in 1990 and General Manager in 1991. In 1993, he became General Manager, Multi-purpose Vehicle and Specialty Tires.
In 1996, Hopkins was named Director, Tire Technology, North America. In 1998, he was elected Vice President, Worldwide Tire Technology. And in 1999, he was named Vice President, Global Product Marketing & Technology Planning. He was named to his previous position on Feb. 1, 2006.
Hopkins holds 27 patents for tire developments. He is on the Board of Trustees of Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron. He is married and lives in Hudson, Ohio. He was born August 11, 1944 in Greeley, Colorado. | 