Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced executive changes to its operations, which will take effect on January 4, 2021.
Toshio Niimi, current general manager of the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) plants in Honsha and Kinuura, Japan, will assume the new role of executive vice president, Production and Manufacturing Engineering at TMNA. Niimi will be responsible for all aspects of Toyota’s North American production engineering operations and 15 vehicle, engine and parts manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including the joint venture in Alabama that will enter in production in 2021. Additionally, he will serve on TMNA’s North American Executive Committee and report to Tetsuo “Ted” Ogawa, TMNA President and CEO.
Tadahisa Isono, current Executive Vice President of Production Engineering, will return to TMC as Project Manager for the Production Group’s Global Reconstruction Plan and Sustainable Development Goals . In his new role, Isono will oversee Production Engineering at Advanced R&D and Engineering Company, Toyota Compact Car Company, Mid-size Vehicle Company, Commercial Vehicle Company and Lexus International Company. Isono joined Toyota’s North American manufacturing company in January 2015 as Senior Vice President of Production Engineering. During his six years of service in North America, he also served as TMNA’s Executive Vice President of Manufacturing.
Lisa Materazzo, who currently serves as TMNA’s Vice President of Lexus Marketing, will be promoted to Group Vice President of Toyota Marketing. Materazzo will replace Ed Laukes , who announced his retirement in November. In this role, Materazzo will be responsible for marketing planning, advertising, merchandising, sales promotions, incentives, NASCAR and motorsports, and all social and digital media. Materazzo joined Toyota in 1998 and has held a variety of marketing related positions, including Vice President of Vehicle Communication and Marketing and Corporate Manager of Digital Interaction and Communication Strategies. He will report to David Christ , group vice president and general manager of TMNA’s Toyota Division.
Tom Stricker, who currently serves as TMNA’s Vice President of Product Regulatory Affairs, will be promoted to Group Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability. In this role, Stricker will be responsible for environmental sustainability and regulatory affairs, motor vehicle safety regulations, and corporate chemical management for Toyota in the United States. The Stricker team will also provide technical support on legislative and media relations issues for Toyota.
Stricker joined Toyota in 2001 and has held various positions on policy, environmental and regulatory matters. You will report to Sandra Phillips Rogers , TMNA Group Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer.
Monte Kaehr , currently serving as TMNA’s Toyota Sienna Principal Engineer, will be promoted to Group Vice President, Advanced Mobility Research & Development. In this role, Kaehr will be responsible for technical strategy and planning for advanced mobility solutions. Kaehr joined Toyota in 1992 as a Design Engineer in Japan and in 1998 was transferred to Toyota’s North American Research and Development division, where he rose to his current role after holding a series of positions in Body Engineering and Product Development. Previously, he also served as Toyota Camry’s managing engineer for the North America region. Kaehr will be accountable to Shinichi Yasui , TMNA’s Executive Vice President, Research and Development.
Jeff Makarewicz, currently serving as TMNA’s Group Vice President, Advanced Mobility Research & Development, has been appointed as Group Vice President and Executive Advisor for Research & Development and Corporate Strategy & Planning. Makarewicz joined Toyota Research and Development in 1990 as an engineer for the Materials Engineering Department and has held various positions in the areas of corporate strategy, product planning, research, design, development and evaluation. Kaehr will be accountable to Shinichi Yasui , Executive Vice President of Research & Development, TMNA.
Edward Mantey, who currently serves as TMNA’s Executive Advisor for Research & Development and Corporate Strategy & Planning, retires on January 29, 2021, after more than 29 years of service. Mantey joined Toyota in 1991 as responsible for overseeing structural evaluations for products developed in North America. From 1996 to 2000, Mantey served as Executive Development, Planning, and Operations Engineer. Among other responsibilities, he served as Lead Engineer for the Avalon 2000 model . Prior to his current role, Mantey was Senior Vice President of the Office of Product Development.
John Kennelly, currently serving as TMNA’s Group Vice President of One Toyota Competitiveness, retires on January 29, 2021, after more than 16 years of service. Kennelly has led the One Toyota initiative to integrate the business processes and systems of the engineering, manufacturing and sales organizations that are part of the Toyota legacy. He has also been a key player in the implementation of the company’s new resource management (ERP) application in Toyota’s North American operations.
