Nokian Tyres has appointed Matt Leeper as vice president of sales for North America, effective Sept. 1. With 30 years of industry experience, Leeper joins Tommi Heinonen, vice president of sales, to manage customer partnerships and sales processes in the U.S. and Canada. The addition strengthens Nokian Tyres sales leadership during a period of rapid growth, the company said.
“We are investing in our executive sales team so we can keep serving customers in an accessible and agile way,” said Chris Ostrander, senior vice president, North America. “Matt’s extensive experience with growing a brand, coupled with Tommi’s vast experience and relationships, provides substantial horsepower.”
Leeper brings extensive sales leadership experience, Nokian said. Most recently, he led nationwide sales at Sumitomo Rubber of North America (Falken Tire Corporation). He also served as vice president of sales and vendor relations at Tire Distributors of Georgia in 2023. At Falken, Leeper spent nearly 25 years rising from merchandising representative to leading U.S. sales operations.
Nokian Tyres said it continues to invest in its North American business, with a focus on supporting production at its Dayton, TN factory. The plant manufactures all-season and all-weather tires to serve U.S. and Canadian customers. By expanding Nokian Tyres sales leadership, the company said it aims to strengthen partnerships.
