Mazda president and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, has added chairman of the board to his roles.

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Current chairman Kazuhide Watanabe will step down on 27 June, after Mazda’s annual shareholders’ meeting.


Imaki became president and CEO in 2003, succeeding Lewis Booth who went on to head Ford of Europe.


John Parker, assistant to Imaki and senior executive vice president, has also expanded his role to vice chairman. He remains in charge of China business, R&D, purchasing, quality assurance, marketing, sales, IT Solutions and the environment.


Parker was formerly president of Ford’s ASEAN operations.


The organizational structure has also been revised to merge vehicle development and vehicle engineering. In a statement Mazda said the new structure would allow the vehicle development and the engineering activities to operate more efficiently and effectively. The change comes into force at the end of April.

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