Toyota names UK chairman
Toyota has appointed Naoya Taniguchi as its new UK chairman. He joins Toyota Great Britain from Toyota Motor Company’s global marketing division, where he was brand planning general manager.
Taniguchi, who will oversee both the Toyota and Lexus brands, replaces outgoing chairman Shimpei Kobayashi, who left Toyota GB for a senior position in the car company’s headquarters in Tokyo. He began his new role on January 5.
Taniguchi’s role will include monitoring sales and marketing by Toyota dealers. He will be based in the company’s Epsom headquarters.
He has held a variety of role at Toyota, including group vice-president of Toyota Motor Sales USA.
Last December, Toyota warned that it expects to post an operating loss of Y150bn (£1.14bn) for the year to March, the first such loss since Toyota began reporting its financial figures in 1941.
The motor manufacturer recently unveiled its 2010 Prius model, which it says is its best hybrid design to date.
