TOKYO, April 12 – Toyota Motor announced a management reshuffling today that will elevate the president of its North American operations, James Press, to become the first non-Japanese ever to sit on the automaker’s board of directors.
The changes announced today will increase the number of board members from 25 to 30. James Press was among nine new members appointed to the board. Four members retired, including Executive Vice President Yoshimi Inaba, a popular executive who led Toyota’s important China operations for two years.
The move comes amid increasing worries at Toyota about a possible political backlash in the United States, where Japanese carmakers have prospered while American rivals are struggling. It also reflects the efforts of Toyota, long a solidly Japanese company, to grow more international as it now produces and sells more vehicles overseas than in Japan.
With what's going on with Toyota it now makes sense why GM was excited when the unveiling of the new concepts in New York this same month will create a huge buzz for the younger crowd in the far east.
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