Executive changes across Toyota’s North American operations from 1 April include the appointment of the first female managing officer in Toyota Motor Corporation history. There are also two milestone appointments for African-Americans.

Julie Hamp, chief communications officer of Toyota’s North America Region, will become managing officer and chief communications officer, TMC, and the first woman named to these positions globally. Based in Tokyo, Japan, Hamp will head Toyota’s global communications efforts, with responsibility for public affairs and overseas external affairs.  She will report to Shigeru Hayakawa, senior managing officer, TMC. 

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“The appointments reflect Toyota’s ongoing efforts to diversify its global leadership team and leverage talent from its biggest, most experienced market as it continues to evolve as a global, customer-focused company. Toyota is also further strengthening regional integration in North America so it can respond more quickly and effectively to its customers’ needs,” the automaker said in a statement.

Other changes announced include:

  • James (Jim) Lentz, senior managing officer, TMC, chief executive officer of Toyota’s North America Region, and president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMA), adds to his title president, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America, Inc. (TEMA).  
  • Osamu “Simon” Nagata, managing officer, TMC, and chief executive officer and president of TEMA, is named senior managing officer, TMC; executive vice president, TMA; and chief administrative officer of TMNA.  In this new role, Nagata will be responsible for the ‘One Toyota’ initiative encompassing Toyota’s transition to a single North American headquarters and related collaboration and integration efforts.  To this end, Nagata will manage on a cross-affiliate basis all North American corporate staffs.  He is based in Plano, Texas, reporting to Lentz.
  • Christopher (Chris) P. Reynolds, general counsel and chief legal officer, TMA, and group vice president, corporate secretary, chief environmental officer and chief compliance officer, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS), is named managing officer and appointed to the newly created position of general counsel and chief legal officer, TMC. Reynolds becomes the first African-American named to these positions globally. He will maintain offices in Torrance, Calif. and Toyota City, Japan and, eventually, Plano, Texas once Toyota’s new headquarters there is completed.  He will report to Shigeki Terashi, senior managing officer, TMC, and Tatsuro Ueda, managing officer, TMC.
  • Osamu Ushio, currently senior vice president for manufacturing, TEMA, responsible for all vehicle assembly plants in North America, and corporate advisor, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK), is named executive vice president of TEMA, with responsibility for all TEMA operations and North American manufacturing, including all assembly and unit plants, reporting to Lentz.
  • Seiya Nakao, president, Toyota Technical Center (TTC), and executive vice president, TEMA, with responsibility for all North American engineering and R&D operations, will now report to Lentz.
  • Sandra Phillips, vice president and deputy general counsel, TMS, is named general counsel and chief legal officer, TMNA.  Phillips, the first African-American woman named to this position, will be responsible for legal operations, legal technology and coordinating the representation of Toyota’s affiliates in North America. 
  • Scott Vazin, vice president of corporate and regional communications, TMA, is named chief communications officer, TMNA, responsible for marketing, product and brand communications for the Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands; corporate reputation; stakeholder engagement; investor relations;  sales, marketing and manufacturing communications; and corporate advertising. 
  • Réal (Ray) Tanguay, chairman, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) and Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI), and president, Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc. (CAPTIN), will retire after 24 years with Toyota, effective March 31, 2015.  Tanguay will become an executive advisor for TMMC. Al Hossack, vice president, CAPTIN, will become president, CAPTIN.

Lentz said: “These are well thought out, carefully considered changes that will better position Toyota for sustainable, long-term growth both in North America and globally. Chris Reynolds and Julie Hamp have made incredible contributions to our North American operations, and we are fortunate to have them now supporting Toyota’s growth and success at the global level. At the same time, we will all benefit from the leadership of Simon Nagata and others as we put in place our new executive team and leadership structure for One Toyota in North America.”

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