Toyota's global personnel changes involve several senior executives in China

According to foreign media reports, Toyota Motor Corporation recently announced the position changes of several senior executives in some parts of the world. According to Toyota's official news, the personnel changes will officially take effect from April 1.

China

Tetsuo Ogawa, current executive director of Toyota Motor Corporation, deputy general manager of China headquarters, and general manager of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Toyota (China)), will be responsible for Toyota Motor Corporation's North American business in the future and will no longer be responsible for China-related business; Kazuhiro Kobayashi, current executive director of Toyota Motor Corporation, deputy general manager of China headquarters, and general manager of GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd., will serve as general manager of Toyota (China) and deputy general manager of China headquarters.

Yoshihiro Uozumi, current executive director of Toyota Motor Corporation, has been promoted to executive director and has assumed the position of general manager of GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Soichiro Okudaira, current executive director of Toyota Motor Corporation and general manager of Toyota Motor Research and Development Center (China) Co., Ltd., has resigned. Kiyoya Nakao, current executive director of Toyota Motor Corporation, has been promoted to executive director and will take up the position of general manager of Toyota Motor Research and Development Center (China) Co., Ltd. and executive vice president of Toyota (China).

North America

Bob Carter, 57, currently senior vice president of Toyota Motor Business Operations, has been named executive vice president of Toyota North American Sales, chairman of Toyota U.S. Sales and executive general manager of Toyota Japan Headquarters.

Carter will be responsible for the sales, marketing, distribution and consumer services of Toyota and Lexus brands in North America, and will report directly to Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota North America. According to the job hierarchy of Japanese companies, Carter's position as executive general manager ranks only below the chairman and some senior executives.

Jack Hollis, 50, currently serves as vice president of Toyota North America's marketing operations. He has been appointed vice president and general manager of Toyota North America, succeeding Bill Fay. Fay has been appointed senior vice president of Toyota and Lexus brand automotive operations, succeeding Carter and reporting directly to Carter.

Fay and Hollis worked closely together during their tenures. Fay was named general manager of Toyota North America in 2012, while Hollis served as vice president of Toyota North America's marketing operations, a position Fay previously held.

Under Fahey's leadership, Toyota's sales in North America have increased, but its market share has declined. In 2012, Toyota's sales in the United States reached 1,764,833 vehicles, accounting for 12.2% of the light vehicle market. In 2016, Toyota's sales in the United States reached 2,106,374 vehicles, and its market share fell to 12%, only behind Ford's 14.2% market share.

In addition, Toyota North America also announced today that it will reduce the number of board members from 11 to 9 in order to improve decision-making efficiency.

Japan and Europe

Osamu Nagata, 59, will serve as Toyota Group Chief Financial Officer and will also become a member of the Toyota Group Board of Directors once approved by the shareholders' meeting at the end of June.

Kazuo Ohara, 59, will serve as global advisor to Toyota Group Headquarters. He previously served as chairman and CEO of Toyota North America.

Osamu Ushio has been appointed general manager of the Tahara plant and will continue to serve as executive general manager of Toyota Group Headquarters. He previously served as executive vice president of engineering and production at Toyota North America.

Tetsuo Ogawa, 57, will become chief administrative officer of Toyota North America. He is currently head of North America and China and reports directly to Lentz.

In addition, Toyota Europe CEO Johan van Zyl, 58, has been promoted to senior management, while the current senior management, Toyota Europe Executive Vice Chairman Karl Schlicht, will resign.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.