December 19, 2012: Toyota’s president and chief executive Akio Toyoda has been named man of the year by Autocar UK magazine’s editor-in-chief Steve Cropley.

“Toyota started the year in a difficult position, yet Akio Toyoda has brought redemption to the company after a succession of damaging safety scares, then launched an extremely aspirational and impressive ‘halo’ car, the Toyota GT86,” said Cropley. “Akio Toyoda, Autocar UK’s man of the year, is definitely the right man for the job.”

The Land Rover design director and chief creative officer, Gerry McGovern, was placed second in the 2012 Autocar heroes ratings. McGovern headed up the design team responsible for the hugely successful Range Rover Evoque and followed that up with the modern reinvention of the Range Rover, launched this year.

Third place was awarded to Ford president and chief executive Alan Mulally, who is famed for first saving Boeing, before moving to Ford and dramatically reversing its decline.

Autocar UK’s Men of the Year

1. Akio Toyoda - Toyota president and chief executive

2. Gerry McGovern - Land Rover design director and chief creative officer

3. Alan Mulally - Ford president and chief executive

4. Adrian Newey - F1 - Red Bull

5. Alex Zanardi - Paralympian – 2 golds and 2 silvers in 2012

6. Lord Charles March - Goodwood

7. Ratan Tata - Chairman - Tata Group

8. Andy Green - World’s fastest man on land

9. Dr Martin Winterkorn - Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen AG

10. Charles Morgan - Morgan chairman