Fardad Niknam is Vice President of OE Sales at Yokohama Tire Corporation with more than 25 years of experience in the tire industry. His career has included developing off-road tire programs for multiple tire manufacturers, several of which became market leaders in their segments. A passionate advocate for off-road motorsports, he has helped guide OEMs in their off-road initiatives, supported Yokohama's return to off-road racing prominence, and has been a driving force behind bringing the Future Legends Scholarship program to the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF).

“The off-road industry has always been close to my heart and remains one of my greatest passions. I strongly believe that many of the tire and vehicle technologies used today, especially in SUVs and pickup trucks, originated from innovations developed in the off-road industry. The demanding conditions of off-road racing and recreation have consistently driven advancements in tire durability, traction, performance, and vehicle capability that later found their way into mainstream automotive applications.” - Fardad Niknam