Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is moving Alain Uyttenhoven to vice president, Lexus Europe from VP, product management. He joined TME in 2004 and his previous assignments included VP at Toyota Motor Deutschland and VP of after sales at TME.
Yu Ishizuki will replace Uyttenhoven in product management, moving from Japan and his post as general manager in Toyota Motor Corporation’s product planning department. He joined TMC in 1989 and needs no introduction to Europe – his previous assignments included product management at TMC and product planning at TME.
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Akimoto Baba becomes VP, production engineering at TME, replacing Ikuo Kasahara who will return to TMC. Baba currently runs TMC’s Takaoka plant body manufacturing division. He joined TMC in 1985 and his previous assignments included positions in production engineering at TMC and at Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing, North America (TEMA).
Gerald Killmann, will be promoted to VP, R&D2, dually assigned to the position of director, material. Killmann is currently project director, R&D1. He joined TME in 1992 and has held various positions in R&D, including director, powertrain.
Yukihiro Sonoda, 53, will be appointed VP, R&D3, dually assigned to director, energy research, replacing Akihito Tanke who will return to TMC. Sonoda is currently project general manager in the advanced engine development division at TMC. He joined TMC in 1984 and his previous assignments included positions at Toyota Technical Centre USA, and in engine development and powertrain management at TMC.
TME’s research & development in Zaventem (Brussels) was reorganised in January 2013 into three functions in line with TME’s strategy of becoming the global planning centre for A, B and C segment vehicles.
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By GlobalDataR&D 1 and 2, each headed by a VP, lead the planning and execution of vehicle projects for Europe with focus on the key issue for Europe – diesel development, interior quality, and vehicle dynamics. R&D 3 covers the advanced research and technical affairs areas.
Other changes in Toyota Motor Europe affiliates from 1 January, 2014 are: Shingo Kato, 52, will be president, Toyota Motor Czech Republic (TMCZ), replacing Tsutomu Otsubo who returned to TMC in Japan in November. Kato joined Toyota in 1985 and is currently president, Toyota Motor Kazakhstan (TMKZ). His past assignments included positions at TMC in accounting and finance, at Toyota Great Britain, TME and Toyota France.
Replacing Kato is Etsuo Hashino who is currently project general manager at TME-Japan. He joined TMC in 1986 and has held various positions in the company including in IT/ITS division and at Toyota France.
