Is There A Migration Trend For Executives Back to Detroit?

Do two high-level defections from Toyota Motor Corp. to Detroit automakers signal a trend?

In less than a month, Toyota lost its highest-ranking American, Jim Press, to Chrysler LLC, and the most promising fast-tracker in its U.S. operations, Jim Farley, to Ford Motor Co.

Officials at the Japanese automaker say the intense recruitment of their executives reflects the company's strong performance in the U.S. market, and they say they have a deep bench of seasoned U.S. executives to fill any empty slots.

But the industry was buzzing with varying interpretations why talented executives were leaving. Farley, general manager of Lexus in North America, resigned Wednesday.


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enthusiastx11 - 10/16/2007 11:14:09 AM

+2 Boost

it seems that way.

perhaps americans at companies like toyota got tired of the glass ceiling imposed on all non-japanese (with the exception of press, no non-japanese has ever made it to the company's 50-person top management committeee). and the below par salaries for people of their skill.

no1listensanyway - 10/16/2007 1:17:06 PM

+2 Boost

"He and Toyota recognized that there was no next step for him (Press)," Keller said. Didn't I call this two weeks ago? I am the man.

Short term I do not see any problems, but long term this could really affect toyota.