DUFFY SWAPS TRAINERS FOR TYRES
Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Holdings South Africa has announced the appointment of Regina Duffy as finance director for the company. She replaces Ramesh Kapoor who has retired after more than 39 years with the company.

Duffy joins Goodyear after more than ten years in senior financial positions with the Nike (from 2001 to 2004 she was Finance Director for Central Europe, Middle East and Africa and in 2006 she moved to South Africa where she has been the company's Finance Director. Duffy, a US citizen, began her career at Garfinkel & Company in the USA after receiving a bachelor's degree in arts, economics and government in 1988. A qualified accountant, she also received her master's degree in business administration from Hostra University in 1993.

Duffy will report to Joe Rosen, Vice President Finance for Goodyear's Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) region, and to Derek de Villiers, Managing Director Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Holdings in South Africa.

XAVIER GOBILLE RENAULT SA'S NEW MD
The appointment of Xavier Gobille as the successor to Renault SA managing director Jean-Jacques le Goff on January 1 2008 follows the French group's recent announcement that production of the Sandero will start at their Alliance partner's Rosslyn plant in 2009.

"South Africa has long been earmarked to play a significant role in Renault's global plan and our decision to invest in local production clearly underscores our commitment to and confidence in South Africa," said Gobille, who has returned to South Africa after serving as vice president of service engineering in France in 2004. "There are very exciting times ahead for Renault South Africa and I have great expectations for the year ahead."

In 1999, Gobille came to South Africa and was responsible for establishing the After-Sales department, its processes and structures for 2002, when Renault SA was created. He operated as Vice President for After-Sales until 2003, when he was promoted to Vice President - Marketing, Sales, Network & After-Sales at Renault SA.