Bridgestone Motorsport is just one part of the global Bridgestone Corporation, which employs over 126,000 people worldwide and has offices, factories or continental headquarters in more than 150 countries. Its worldwide headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan whilst the company's Chairman of the Board, CEO and President is Shoshi Arakawa.
Two other Strategic Business Units cover Europe and the United States: Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (BSEU) is based in Brussels, Belgium. Headed by Chairman, CEO and President, Takashi Urano, BSEU develops and manufactures tyres at factories in Italy, Spain, France, Hungary and Poland, which are distributed across the continent, including Eastern Europe, via its 17 subsidiary sales companies and two private distributors. BSEU employs around 12,000 people. Products are also exported outside Europe, including to Japan.
While Bridgestone's history is steeped in motorsport and motor-racing forms part of its ethos, its product range reaches far beyond tyres for the circuit. Established in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi, the Bridgestone Corporation is now the world's largest manufacturer of rubber products and tyres for cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses. The company's diverse operations include the manufacture of golf clubs, tennis racquets, bicycles, industrial conveyor belts and marine fenders.