AKRON (Dec. 16)—John Lampe, Bridgestone/Firestone chairman and CEO, has been named Rubber & Plastics News´ Rubber Industry Executive of the Year for leading his company´s rebound from the recall of 14.4 million Firestone tires. Lampe took the top spot at BFS in October 2000, when the firm was embrolied in the recall and firestorm of negative publicity. The company survived the controversy and the depressed economy, and is expected to report net income of $70 million for 2002, compared with a loss of $1.67 billion last year.