Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has announced substantial changes to its executive structure in Japan, altering roles of top management.

The changes, which will take effect on April 1 this year, are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to encourage sustainable growth and further improve its products and services around the world. They will build on changes made in April 2013, which created business units and reorganized the company’s regional operations.

As part of these changes, Didier Leroy, senior managing officer, TMC, CEO Europe Region, and president and CEO Toyota Motor Europe, will be appointed president of Toyota No.1 at TMC. In this responsibility, Leroy will oversee the R&D, manufacturing and sales operations for the North America, Europe and Africa regions; the Japan Sales Business Group; and the Product Planning, Design and Motorsports functions related to the Toyota No.1 regional scope. He will also become the first non-Japanese executive vice-president of TMC, as well as member of the Board of Directors of TMC, pending formal approval at the 111th General Shareholders Meeting in June. He will be based in Brussels.

Currently, executive vice-presidents at Toyota are responsible for their respective business units and key functions. Starting April 1, they will oversee TMC in its entirety, carrying out operations and administration from a mid-to-long-term perspective.

From April 1, executives of the senior managing officer level and below will be responsible for the business units, regional operations and key functions. This will enable prompt decision-making by allowing the heads of business units, regions and key functions to make proactive decisions based on realities on the ground.
Following this latest change, Dr Johan van Zyl, currently managing officer, TMC, CEO, Africa Region, and president and CEO, Toyota South Africa Motors Ltd (TSAM), will become CEO Europe Region and president and CEO, Toyota Motor Europe (in addition to his current responsibilities). Mr Leroy will be appointed chairman, Toyota Motor Europe.