Christina Zamarro on technology innovation
From Christina Zamarro (EVP and CFO, Goodyear) on shifting financial and operating strategies · · Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management
“We are able to construct new tires that bear the weight and lengthen the battery life of the vehicle through ultra low rolling resistance technology, which creates a mix-up and margin enhancement in our business with our original equipment customers.”
On , Christina Zamarro, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Interim President of EMEA Business Unit at GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, spoke about technology innovation during Christina Zamarro (EVP and CFO, Goodyear) on shifting financial and operating strategies on Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management.
About Christina Zamarro
In a September 2023 interview, Christina Zamarro, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Goodyear, discussed the impact of electric vehicles on the tire industry. She stated that EVs present unique engineering challenges because they can weigh 30 to 40 percent more than internal combustion engine vehicles and have higher torque, which increases stress on tires. Zamarro said Goodyear is developing tires with ultra-low rolling resistance technology to bear the weight and extend battery life, and noted that EV tires can wear out twice as fast as standard tires, though specialized design can reduce that wear by half. Zamarro described the replacement tire business as generally defensive during recessions, with demand dropping only two to three percent. She pointed to a four percent year-over-year increase in U.S. vehicle miles traveled as a positive indicator. On leadership, she advised being decisive and communicating decisions quickly, and encouraged thinking boldly, noting that many executives she has known regretted not taking bold moves earlier in their careers. She also observed that higher interest rates are shifting capital allocation toward debt repayment, and that global labor inflation is driving investment in automation rather than relocating manufacturing to lower-wage regions.