The general director of Goodyear's Technical Center in Akron has been named the tire company's senior vice president and chief technical officer.

Jean-Claude Kihn will replace Joseph M. Gingo, who is retiring from Goodyear after 41 years to become chief executive officer of the Fairlawn polymer firm A. Schulman Inc.

Kihn's promotion is effective Jan. 1.

The announcement about Kihn, 48, is evidence of the broad and deep capabilities that have been built on Goodyear's technical leadership, Goodyear's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Keegan said in a statement Wednesday.

''Jean-Claude has demonstrated excellent leadership throughout the time I have known him and worked with him,'' Keegan said. ''He has gained the trust of our business leaders in Europe, Latin America and North America through his recent assignments in those businesses.''

Kihn joined Goodyear in 1988 at the Goodyear Technical Center in Luxembourg as a compounder working in passenger tires. He has held several positions with Goodyear's Asian and Latin American business units before being promoted to general director of the Akron Tech Center in 2005. He is a chemical engineer with a doctorate from the University of Louvain in Belgium. He is fluent in English, German, Spanish and ''Luxembourgish,'' the national language in Luxembourg.

''I am extremely honored to be thought of as someone who can fill Joe's shoes,'' Kihn said in a statement. ''However, I am also very confident in our future capabilities — thanks in large part to the tremendous leadership team that has been developed throughout the organization.''

Goodyear has a succession-planning process in place, spokesman Keith Price said.

In addition to Kihn's appointment, Goodyear also announced several other leadership changes in technical and re
search areas, also effective Jan. 1:

• William M. Hopkins, 64, who is vice president of technology and strategic initiatives, has been named vice president of advanced concepts. In his new role, he will establish and lead a team responsible for ''breakthrough'' concepts that will drive the development of innovative product and process technologies. He will remain in Akron.

• Joseph Zekoski, 57, who is the general director of the Goodyear Technical Center in Luxembourg, has been named vice president of global product development and technical center operations, a new position. He will be responsible for product development designed to ensure the timely and cost-effective delivery of innovative products. He will remain in Luxembourg.

• Surendra Chawla, 60, who is director of corporate tire research, has been named senior director of external science and technology programs. Chawla will be responsible for discovering and assessing innovative technologies applicable to the company's product and business needs. He will remain in Akron.

• Marc Junio, 55, who is director of technology, consumer tires in Goodyear's European Union and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa tire business segments, has been named general director of the Akron Tech Center and will replace Kihn. He will move to Akron from Europe, Price said.

Gingo was Goodyear's point man for the recently announced $890 million corporate headquarters and East Akron redevelopment project. His departure from Goodyear will not affect the ongoing headquarters project, the company said. Laura Thompson, vice president for business development, will head that effort.

Kihn will probably not be involved in the headquarters project in his new position, Price said.