Toyota promotes Didier Leroy as highest-ranked foreigner

Toyota named Didier Leroy its first non-Japanese executive vice president Wednesday.

He also sits on the company's board of directors. This follows Leroy's promotion in April, when he was named president of Toyota No. 1, the division which overseas R&D, manufacturing, sales, product planning, design, motorsports... pretty much everything for North America, Europe, and Africa, as well as sales in Japan.

Leroy had served until now as head of Toyota's European operations, and will remain based at the company's regional headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The appointment follows the earlier promotion of Julie Hamp. Previously group vice president at Toyota Motor North America, Hamp now serves as the company's global chief communications officer and is based in Japan, making her the first female senior executive in Toyota's history. Show full PR text Didier Leroy appointed as first non-Japanese Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Corporation

Mr Leroy was officially appointed today President of Toyota No. 1, which covers R&D, manufacturing and sales for the North America, Europe, and Africa regions; the Japan Sales Business Group; and the Product Planning, Design and Motorsports functions related to the Toyota No.1 regional scope.

Toyota City, Japan - Today, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) officially appointed Didier Leroy as President of Toyota N°1 at TMC. The appointment took place at the 111th General Shareholders meeting.

In this responsibility, Mr Leroy will oversee the R&D, manufacturing and sales operations for the North America, Europe and Africa regions; the Japan Sales Business Group; and the Product Planning, Design and Motorsports functions related to the Toyota No.1 regional scope. He also became today the first non-Japanese Executive Vice President of TMC, as well as member of the Board of Directors of TMC.

This appointment takes place after the announcement made by TMC in March about changes to its executive structure in Japan, altering roles of top management. Mr Leroy will be based in Brussels.
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