Goodyear Named One of America's Most Respected Companies

Thursday, July 10, 2008 5:01 PM

Symbols: GT

AKRON, Ohio, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been recognized as one of America's most respected companies by the Reputation Institute (RI) and Forbes magazine.

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Goodyear ranked 16th on the magazine's third annual listing of companies with the best reputations in the United States, which was released on www.forbes.com.

The list is based on the results RI's Global Pulse consumer opinion survey, which measures the overall respect, trust, esteem, admiration and good feelings consumers hold toward the world's largest companies.

Scores are based on RI's seven dimensions of reputation: products/services, innovation, workplace, citizenship, governance, leadership and performance. RI said the 2008 survey indicates that consumers are most influenced by a company's high-quality products and services as well as its governance and citizenship.

Goodyear's score of 76.0, represented a 7.54 point increase over 2007 and was the largest year-over-year improvement of any company on the list. Goodyear is the only tire company on the top-75 list.

'This recognition is very meaningful,' said Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer. 'It demonstrates that our strategy to offer high-quality, innovative tires with consumer-relevant technology is resonating with American drivers,' he said.

'Consumers put their trust in Goodyear every time they get behind the wheels of their cars. Every Goodyear associate appreciates and values that trust,' Keegan said.

'When people trust, admire and have a good feeling about a company, they are willing to support and recommend the company to others,' said Anthony Johndrow, RI managing director, in announcing the 2008 rankings.

The recognition from RI and Forbes is the fifth significant honor for Goodyear in 2008. The company was named the world's most admired company in the motor vehicle parts industry by Fortune magazine. Audit Integrity Inc. and Forbes magazine ranked Goodyear sixth on their list of America's most trustworthy companies. The Wall Street Journal recognized Goodyear for leading shareholder return for the past five years in the automotive category. Goodyear was also ranked among the Top 100 Corporate Citizens selected by CRO magazine.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. The company employs about 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world. For more information about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

CONTACT: Keith Price