Goodyear's Laura Thompson Elected Officer

AKRON, Ohio, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Laura Thompson, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's vice president of business development, has been elected an officer of the corporation by the Board of Directors.

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"Laura has done an exceptional job since assuming the lead role in business development almost three years ago," said Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear's chairman and chief executive officer. "She assisted the company's efforts to focus on its core consumer and commercial tire businesses by successfully negotiating several divestitures including the North American farm tire, global fabric and engineered products businesses."

Thompson, an Akron-area native, has also been given project management oversight for the company's new Akron headquarters effort as part of her portfolio of responsibilities, Keegan said.

Thompson, 43, was appointed vice president of business development on June 1, 2005. In this role, she is responsible for acquisition, divestiture and partnership activities in supporting Goodyear's long-term strategies.

Thompson started her career with Goodyear in 1983 working part-time while finishing her undergraduate degree in accounting from The University of Akron. She also holds an MBA in finance from The University of Akron.

She served in various financial and accounting staff positions, both in business units and corporate staff, until being named manager of finance for Research and Development in 1997. In 2000, she was named director of Investor Relations and served in that capacity for two years. She became finance director for consumer tires in the company's North American Tire business in 2002, and was named director, business development for the unit a year later.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. Fortune magazine named Goodyear the World's Most Admired Motor Vehicle Parts Company in its 2008 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. The publication ranked Goodyear No. 1 in innovation, people management, use of assets and global orientation. The company is also listed on Forbes magazine's list of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America and CRO magazine's ranking of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. Goodyear employs about 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 26 countries around the world. For more information about Goodyear, go to http://www.goodyear.com/corporate .

Contact: Keith Price

330-796-1863