NASHVILLE, TN — A business that provides on-highway truck lubrication and routine tire services to commercial truck owner-operators and fleets has gotten new leadership.

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations announced on Wednesday the appointment of Chris Ripani as president of Speedco Inc., who will lead implementation of the newly formed growth strategy for the company.

Ripani succeeds Scott Damon who recently was named president of Firestone Industrial Products.

Speedco is owned by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, which is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corp., is the one of world’s largest tire and rubber companies.

“Chris has proven himself as a dynamic leader in the commercial business,” said Kurt Danielson, president, U.S. and Canada commercial tire sales. “He has the knowledge and leadership skills that will help take the Speedco business to the next level and his leadership will further drive growth for the commercial division of Bridgestone.”

Ripani began his career at Bridgestone in 2001 as a territory sales manager for Bridgestone Commercial Solutions. Shortly after, he assumed positions of increasing responsibility within the commercial tire division. He accepted his most recent role of executive director of marketing for  Bridgestone Commercial Stores Division in 2013, that includes the company’s GCR Tires & Service centers.

Prior to joining Bridgestone, Ripani gained experience working with Bauer Built Inc., CarMax, Falken Tire Corp. and Sears Tire Group.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Columbia College in Chicago, IL and has completed leadership and strategy programs at University of Phoenix, Vanderbilt University and Harvard University.