Honda has announced that from the middle of 2009 it will have a new President and CEO in Mr Takanobu Ito, currently Honda’s Senior Managing Director. Ito was selected as a result of his broad experience within the Honda corporation

The 55 year-old Ito, who has been with Honda since 1978, will assume control in June after the annual shareholders’ meeting and succeeds Takeo Fukui.

Out-going President, Mr Fukui, who has been President since 2003, will stay on with the company in the role of Director and Advisor to Honda Motor.

After starting with Honda as an R&D engineer specializing in chassis design, Ito has held a number of important roles within the company.

He has been involved in the development of small sedans for the Japanese market, worked as Executive Vice President of R&D for Honda and Acura in America and was involved in the development of the original NSX.

Ito has also held a mind-boggling array of simultaneous positions with Honda: Sitting on the Board of Directors of Honda Motor Company and being Managing Director of Honda R&D, then onto President and Director of Honda R&D as well as General Supervisor of Motor Sports.

He has also been involved in the manufacturing process, taking the role of General Manager of Honda’s Suzuka Factory in April 2005.

Takanobu Ito steps into the role at quite possibly the most unenviable time. Given the state of global car markets, however, his breadth of experience in both Japan and the US should prove valuable to Honda as it works through the current uncertainties.