NASHVILLE — Tennessee Gov.-elect Bill Haslam has chosen former Bridgestone Americas CEO and President Mark Emkes to a pivotal position as commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration.
Haslam’s transition team said Emkes would effectively serve as the state’s chief operating officer, since the Finance Department provides financial and administrative support for state functions and prepares the budget. It administers several key areas, including information services, and former trouble spots such as TennCare.
Haslam released a statement announcing his choice.
“During the campaign I often made the point that state government is a large and complex organization, and I’m proud to announce someone of Mark’s caliber as a member of the team because we have some difficult challenges — and opportunities — ahead with the state budget,” Haslam said.
Haslam said Emkes “has incredible experience all over the world, but more importantly, he is someone who has run a large and complex organization.”
Emkes said in the statement that he is honored Haslam asked him to serve.
“I’ve always admired people who serve others. I’m proud that I now have the opportunity to serve the governor and the people of Tennessee,” he said.
Emkes, 57, spent his entire professional career at Bridgestone, working his way up from a trainee who changed tires to chairman, CEO and president before retiring in February after 33 years. When he retired, Bridge-stone Americas had annual revenues of $12 billion with 50,000 employees in North, Central and South America.
In an interview earlier this year with Reynolds Consulting LLC, posted on the firm’s website, Emkes was asked to describe his management philosophy.
“First, management needs to respect the people that work in the company because if the guy at the bottom doesn’t do his job, the guy at the top can lose his, and secondly, show people you care,” Emkes was quoted as saying.
He also said leaders “have to be able to visualize success — be positive and upbeat. … In addition, it is important to plan well.”
He described how Bridgestone under his leadership created a 10-year plan in 2005 to deal with financial losses. Restructuring and cost-containment measures helped the company profit despite the recession that began in 2007, he noted in the interview.
Emkes has lived in Nashville since 2000. He serves on several boards, including First Horizon National Corp., the parent company of First Tennessee Bank.
Other First Horizon board members include Haslam’s older brother, James A. “Jimmy” Haslam III, and Brad Martin, a member of the Haslam campaign’s finance team.
A graduate of DePauw University, Emkes has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Emkes and his wife, Conchi, have a son and daughter. They are members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Brentwood.