Miguel Fonseca has taken up his new position as Managing Director of Toyota (GB) PLC (TGB). Fonseca, 46, joins the company from Toyota Spain, where he held the positions of Managing Director and, subsequently, Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.
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He replaces Graham Smith, who after 10 years at the helm at TGB is taking on two new roles within Toyota: as Senior Vice-President, Toyota Motor Europe, responsible for External and Environmental Affairs; and as Managing Director of Toyota Motor Europe at its London office.
Looking at the challenges ahead, Fonseca said: “I am planning to build on the success that Graham has helped the company achieve in the past decade, working to embrace the change the market requires. I believe we have to change quicker than our surrounding environment, in order to remain competitive and keep ahead of our rivals. TGB, like all businesses, needs permanent, orderly, yet dynamic and innovative change in order to keep winning.
“I am aware of the difficulties currently facing the UK market, but I am sure that within TGB and its national network of Centres, there is the knowledge and determination to maximise opportunities and capitalise on our strengths.”
Fonseca was born in Porto, Portugal, and is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Lisbon University. His automotive industry management career began with Citroën Portugal in 1987. From 1989 through to 1997 he held senior managerial posts with Ford Portugal, Ford of Europe (in the UK) and Ford Spain. In 1998 he joined Fiat and was President and Chairman of Fiat Auto Portugal before moving to Toyota in 2001.
Fonseca is married to Paula and the couple have three children. His leisure interests include sport, chess, photography, music and anything related to cars and new technologies.
