Toyota Motor North America (NYSE:TM) today said that there are executive changes coming because of ongoing vehicle electrification design and manufacturing modifications already underway.
Toyota now directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who design, engineer, and assemble what totals ~45 million cars and trucks at 13 non-unionized manufacturing plants. The Research & Development, Manufacturing and Product Support changes are effective 3 July 2023.
Promotions
- Mike Sweers, senior vice president, Product Development Office and Global Truck executive chief engineer, has been promoted to executive vice president, Toyota Motor North America, Research & Development (TMNA R&D) and chief technology officer, reporting to Ted Ogawa, CEO, TMNA. Sweers will be responsible for North American vehicle research and development. He is also appointed to the TMNA North American Executive Committee. Sweers assumes the core responsibilities previously held by Shinichi Yasui as the head of R&D and who recently became Chief Project Leader, Hydrogen Factory, at Toyota Motor Corporation.
- Susan Elkington, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), has been promoted to senior vice president, Electric Vehicle Supply. In this newly created role, Susan will be responsible for accelerating the company’s electrified transformation, with a focus on battery and electric vehicle production and supply strategy. Elkington will report to Takefumi Shiga, executive vice president, Engineering and Manufacturing, TMNA.
- Kerry Creech, vice president, Manufacturing, TMMK, has been promoted to president, TMMK. In this role, Kerry will oversee Toyota’s largest plant in the world as it prepares for future BEV production. Creech will report to Elkington.
New Assignments
- Chris Nielsen, executive vice president, Product Support and chief quality officer, TMNA, and member of the TMNA North American Executive Committee, assumes additional responsibility for North American purchasing and supplier development. Robert Young, group vice president, Purchasing Supplier Development, will report to Nielsen.
- Norm Bafunno, senior vice president, Unit Manufacturing and Engineering, assumes the title of Senior Manufacturing Executive. In this expanded role, he will advise Shiga, helping lead the company’s manufacturing transformation strategy while continuing his responsibilities overseeing all North American unit plants. Bafunno will continue to report to Shiga.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Toyota Motor North America EV Executive Shuffle
Toyota Motor North America (NYSE:TM) today said that there are executive changes coming because of ongoing vehicle electrification design and manufacturing modifications already underway.
Toyota now directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who design, engineer, and assemble what totals ~45 million cars and trucks at 13 non-unionized manufacturing plants. The Research & Development, Manufacturing and Product Support changes are effective 3 July 2023.
Promotions
New Assignments
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.