Michael Kerns
Senior Manager, Chemical Operations R&D, Cooper Integration, and WBCSD Co-Chair at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company- Claim this Profile
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Spanish Limited working proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Credentials
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Executive Certificate in Management & Leadership
MIT Sloan School of ManagementJan, 2013- Nov, 2024 -
Executive Certificate in Strategy & Innovation
MIT Sloan School of ManagementJan, 2009- Nov, 2024 -
Six Sigma Sponsorship/Green Belt Training
Goodyear Internal Training CenterJan, 2002- Nov, 2024
Experience
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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
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United States
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Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Manager, Chemical Operations R&D, Cooper Integration, and WBCSD Co-Chair
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Jul 2022 - Present
Currently leading R&D efforts in support of Goodyear’s investment in functional polymers, small molecule design, engineered materials, and chemical process development. Representing Goodyear as corporate 30(b)(6) and expert witness.Currently Serving as the Research Co-Chair representing Goodyear in the Tire Industry Project under the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) - Guiding global research programs aimed at proactively identifying and addressing potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of tires, contributing to a more sustainable future. Currently leading the integration of two global materials R&D organizations to maximize efficiency and value of the Cooper acquisition. Developed target state organizational plans and operating models, executed synergy projects to create value in support of the acquisition, and fostering collaboration across the global footprint. -Leading the standardized execution of the Goodyear Change Management Process across all Cooper integration workstreams for global R&D. Show less
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Senior Manager Global Materials Integration & Change Management, and Americas Compound Development
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Mar 2021 - Jul 2022
• Global Materials integration Leader (US, EU, China) for the 2021 $2.5BN Cooper Tire acquisition (project portfolio, materials line-up, human resources, labs, and processes)• Global Change Management for all Goodyear / Cooper Tire R&D Integration efforts across all functions• Materials Development for Americas Consumer, Commercial, and Racing; Global Earthmover and Aero
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Senior Manager, Global Material Science and Compound Development
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2015 - Jul 2022
My teams are responsible for: - Consumer, Commercial, and Racing Segments - North and South America - Earthmover and Aero Segments - Global- Materials Science Research - GlobalWith a passion for business success, my teams leverage a market-back approach and operational excellence to deliver world class R&D investment value. By developing technology roadmaps which link upstream technology development to downstream market needs we have enabled focused investment and sound portfolio management. Examples of our recent successes include:✥INTRODUCED the first 100% renewable oil based tread on the #1 rated WeatherReady tire -Goodyear’s fastest selling new tire ever, and winner of the 2018 International Tire Technology Environmental Achievement of the Year. ✥LAUNCHED a new silica compound for Eagle F1 Supercar tire—the original equipment fitment for GM’s record-setting Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE. ✥EXPANDED renewable oil tread technology to the new top-rated Eagle Exhilarate, Assurance ComfortDrive, and Eagle Enforcer police pursuit tire—the first winter-rated police tire to pass high-severity durability testing.✥REORGANIZED compound development department, minimizing production assistance response times and improving production consistency. Improved production service metrics to record levels, achieving >60% production service improvement - and now used as a global best practice. ✥Drove new data analytics IT capability, mining data from our global manufacturing footprint to support production monitoring and compound physical property performance.✥Harnessed Goodyear’s physical experiment database to accelerate product timelines and identify un-tapped performance opportunities. Initiated an AI-based approach on formulation development, improving virtual experimentation and enabling training in a virtual lab. Show less
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Manager, Americas Tire Compounding & Global Reinforcement Technology
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2012 - 2015
My global team of chemists and engineers were responsible for compound development that supported all of Goodyear tires in the Americas along with global reinforcement technologies. Deep cross functional collaboration with procurement drove raw material savings to new levels.✥COLLABORATING WITH DUPONT, my team commercialized a new Kevlar reinforcement for the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure tire.✥INITIATED relations with United Soy Board, ultimately leading to $3+M in external funding for renewable oil R&D. ✥COLLABORATING with procurement, I led the development of a new cross-functional global supplier collaboration process, reducing cycle time and increasing accountability for the development and execution of global material sourcing strategies. Saved tens of millions of dollars in raw material sourcing costs. Show less
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Manager, Global Materials & Polymer Technology
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2008 - 2012
Recruited back to Goodyear to lead a renewed focus in polymer technology, I led a global team of chemists and engineers. Harnessing my team’s strengths, we developed multiple new technologies while transitioning to a lean, project management oriented matrix organization.✥SAVED $10M annually through the development of a low-cost internally sourced PBD. ✥DEVELOPED AND RELEASED a new chemically treated silica technology to improve fuel economy and reduce heat build-up.
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BASF
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Germany
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Chemical Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Group Technology Manager
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2004 - 2008
Working for the largest chemical company, I led a team of scientists and engineers to transform our workplace into a dynamic, empowered, high-producing team. Blending formalized product lifecycle management and Stage Gate methodology, I implemented a successful product development strategy. I also teamed with marketing to execute product roadmaps. We used new tech capabilities that had been developed through global collaboration. ✥CULTIVATED fundamental culture shift. Fostered autonomy, provided purpose, and inspired skill mastery—empowering entrepreneurial mindsets. (➡Promoted key associates to build and demonstrate accountability. ➡Recruited top scientists from MIT and Stanford to improve technical depth. ➡Elevated creative technicians to lab operations leadership positions.) ✥INITIATED new global collaborations between BASF R&D centers at the scientist level, directing research projects and technology transfer to North America from BASF, Ludwigshafen. (➡Designed and commercialized industry-leading products, including the fastest-selling super plasticizer.) ✥INSTITUTIONALIZED a new Stage-Gate process to manage the R&D project portfolio, allowing the organization to compete with more focus and efficiency. Established key roles to ensure sustainable success. Show less
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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
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United States
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Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Manager, Product Development
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2000 - 2004
The teams I led developed a diversified portfolio of new products (e.g. elastomers, latices, adhesives, chemicals). Focused our resources and R&D efforts toward high-ROI, achievable goals. Success required close collaboration with targeted global customers in a number of diversified markets. Commercialized numerous products in markets including medical devices, sporting goods, engineered products, adhesives, paints, and tires. ✥RECEIVED Inventor of the Year Award, 2003. Noted for making key technical contributions toward new product design and application development.✥INITIATED successful joint venture development projects with targeted customers in 3 different market segments across North America and Europe. ✥INVITED to speak at IUPAC Ionic Polymerization Symposium in Boston, MA, 2003. Show less
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Project Coordinator, Advanced Process Research
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1999 - 2000
Promoted to Project Coordinator, I led a team of 7 research chemists and engineers. I met with global customers to understand the needs of the marketplace and managed R&D projects to create a new and diversified portfolio. I also represented the R&D team to Beaumont chemical plant.✥DEVELOPED and commercialized Solflex solution SBR portfolio.
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Senior Research Chemist, New Polymerization Technology
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1998 - 1999
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH GOODYEAR began as a senior research chemist. In my new position, I led research, development, and scale-up of a commercial process for the preparation of random low vinyl solution SBR. I also designed and synthesized new ligands for single site catalysis research.
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Bridgestone Americas
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United States
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Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Research Chemist, Elastomer Synthesis Group
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1995 - 1998
Joining Bridgestone, I worked with the Elastomer Synthesis Group. (➡Developed a general route to novel functional alkyl lithium initiators. ➡Led research and scale-up of novel and functionalized Ziegler-Natta polydienes for improved polymer-filler interactions. ➡Completed extensive research into rare earth catalyzed polydienes.) ✥RECEIVED Director’s Award, 1997. Joining Bridgestone, I worked with the Elastomer Synthesis Group. (➡Developed a general route to novel functional alkyl lithium initiators. ➡Led research and scale-up of novel and functionalized Ziegler-Natta polydienes for improved polymer-filler interactions. ➡Completed extensive research into rare earth catalyzed polydienes.) ✥RECEIVED Director’s Award, 1997.
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The Ohio State University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Graduate Research Fellow & Graduate Teaching Assistant
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1991 - 1995
Awarded Research Fellowships from both P&G AND AMOCO. I also served as a graduate teaching assistant within the university. My accomplishments included: (➡developing chemical and electrochemical routes to substituted 2-thiophenyldihydrobenzofurans and bicyclic dienones, ➡mapping routes to tricyclic dihydrobenzofurans via intramolecular cycloaddition reactions of vinyl sulfides, and ➡completing the total synthesis of anti-anginal naphthopyran quinine (-)- hongconin via annelation reaction of levogloucosenone). ✥AWARDED P&G Industrial Research Fellowship and Amoco Industrial Research Fellowship. ✥RECEIVED Outstanding Scholarship Award from OSU, 1995. Show less
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NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Ohio Aerospace Institute Summer Research Fellow
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1991 - 1991
DURING MY TIME WITH NASA Lewis Research Center, I synthesized polymers for potential use as non-linear optical materials. DURING MY TIME WITH NASA Lewis Research Center, I synthesized polymers for potential use as non-linear optical materials.
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Education
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1991 - 1995
The Ohio State University
Ph.D., Organic Chemistry -
1987 - 1991
Oberlin College
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Chemistry -
2015 - 2015
Harvard Business School
Senior Leadership Development Program -
2004 - 2018
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Executive Certificates, Management & Leadership and Innovation & Technology Management
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