Akio Toyoda, Grandson Of Toyota Founder, To Become Toyota President

akio-toyoda
Jan 10, 2009
ShareThis

Akio Toyoda, grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda, is expected to be voted in as president of Toyota Motor Corporation by the company’s board.  Associated Press has reported that the 52 year-old Toyoda will take over from current president Katsuaki Watanabe in June, following the news that Toyota is facing its first projected operating loss in 71 years.

akio-lexus-isf

The ascendance of Akio Toyoda to the company’s presidency will mark the first time in 14 years that a Toyoda has sat in the top spot at the world’s biggest automaker. If Akio’s reputation for a more relaxed attitude than the typical Japanese executive is anything to go by, Toyota’s future may be all the more brighter.  If nothing else, it should ensure that the LF-A becomes a reality.

Watanabe is expected to drop a couple of chairs down to vice-chairman, while current chairman Fujio Cho will hold his spot. Toyoda’s move to president is a promotion from executive vice president – a position he has held since 2005.

[AP]

Related Stories

Comments

    Post new comment

    Want to join the discussion, or start one off?

    Before you can get started, you'll need to log in to the TMR comments system via one of the services below (TMR Hub, Facebook, OpenID). If you don't have an account with any of those three, we'd recommend a TMR Hub account, so that you can take advantage of the great features that are just around the corner.

    OR OR

    (optional)
    (not shown to others)


    To comment, you must be logged in via one of the above methods.