Nashville Business Breakfast
Founded in 2007, the Nashville Business Breakfast is a quarterly networking event, presented by Lipscomb University and the Nashville Business Journal, with a news-conference-style format, featuring business leaders with local economic impact. With an average attendance of more than 600 metro area professionals, the event provides an opportunity to connect with peers and hear a pertinent discussion with a business leader in the community.
In-Person and Virtual Business Breakfast
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Paolo Ferrari
Executive Chairman, Bridgestone Americas
Joint Global COO and Global Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Bridgestone Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Bridgestone West Group President, Bridgestone Americas Executive Chairman of the BSAM Board, Chairman of the BSEMEA (formerly BSEMIA) Supervisory Board
George Shinn Center
Paolo Ferrari was named Chief Executive Officer of Bridgestone West in January 2024. He also serves as Joint Global COO and Global Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Bridgestone Corporation, Executive Chairman of Bridgestone Americas and Chairman of Bridgestone EMEA.
In this role, Ferrari leads the growth strategy for Bridgestone Americas, Bridgestone EMEA, West Bridgestone Mobility Solutions and the newly created West Retail Business Area. Ferrari has been instrumental in evolving the Bridgestone business portfolio to include sustainable mobility solutions.
Previously, Ferrari served as President & CEO of Bridgestone Americas, a position he has held since January 2020. He led the successful acquisition of the Azuga fleet management business in September 2021, and guided minority investments in a selection of startup mobility companies that includes May Mobility, Kodiak Robotics, Wrench and Yoshii.
Ferrari first joined Bridgestone in 2016 as CEO & President, Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (EMIA). While in Europe, he focused on R&D investment, product development, distribution expansion and digital mobility solutions while putting the customer at the center of his strategy. As BSEMIA CEO, Ferrari spearheaded the mobility solutions strategy for Bridgestone globally with the acquisition of TomTom Telematics, which today is known as Webfleet Solutions.
In April 2022, Ferrari was named Joint Global COO, giving him accountability and oversight for Bridgestone EMEA in addition to Bridgestone Americas. In this expanded global role, Ferrari is focused on driving increased coordination between the Americas and EMIA markets and scaling the Bridgestone solutions business worldwide.
Prior to joining Bridgestone, Ferrari had a diverse career that spanned the finance, general management and technology sectors. He began his career in sales management at luxury brand Zegna in New York in 1994, followed by several years in finance at Credit Suisse First Boston in London and Kataweb, the Internet company of Gruppo L’Espresso. From 2002 to 2011, he took on a series of CEO roles within TIM (Telecom Italia) Group in Italy, Germany and France and managed assets in Latin America and Southeast Asia. His business development acumen brought the Group key strategic gains through skillful turnaround of key enterprises.
As a result of his global exposure, multi-industry business development expertise and deep understanding of the American market, Ferrari was appointed Chairman and CEO of Pirelli North America in January of 2012 and later CEO of Pirelli Latin America. Through these roles he built his expertise in tires and automotive services, achieving double-digit growth and market leadership.
Ferrari earned his bachelor’s degree in business and economics from the Milan Bocconi University and an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business. He is a citizen of both the United States and Italy, and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Sponsor
The Nashville Business Breakfast is sponsored by PNC Bank.
