Goodyear Dunlop has announced three new leadership appointments in their Birmingham based Dunlop Motorsport business, with the aim to driving the brand to pole position in the highly competitive arena of world motorsport.

Patrice Omont joins the team as director of tyre technology, motorsport and motorcycle. Mr Omont joined Dunlop France in 1984 as a designer, before holding various management roles in training, customer service and the car tyre development team.

His most recent roles have been as technical director for Goodyear’s Asia-Pacific business unit and as leader of the company’s testing programmes.He will be joined in the research and development team by Sebastien Montet, who is appointed as manager of motorsport technology.

Mr Montet has 12 years experience in the company, most recently in the design team at Dunlop’s motorcycle development centre in Montlucon, France. This appointment marks a return to Birmingham for Sebastien, who worked in the motorsport team as a tyre designer earlier in his career.

The third new team member is James Bailey, who is appointed director of motorsport marketing and communications. Mr Bailey has 15 years marketing and PR experience within Goodyear Dunlop, including his most recent responsibility as brand PR director for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Sanjay Khanna, managing director of Dunlop Brand EMEA, said: “These appointments are key in building the Dunlop Motorsport business to drive our ambitious plans for the Dunlop brand both in the road tyre market and in the motorsport business.”