Toyota Replaces More Than One Third Of Management - Appoints Former GM Exec To Board In Massive Shakeup

Toyota Motor Corp. appointed former General Motors executive Mark Hogan to its board, installing the first foreigner since 2007 and the first outside director ever in an attempt to breathe fresh perspective into the mammoth Japanese carmaker.

The move is part of a sweeping management overhaul that promotes Takeshi Uchiyamada to chairman, switches out more than a third of the current board and realigns global business units.

Among the changes is the introduction of new regional chiefs, including the first CEO for North America, Jim Lentz.

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Agent009 - 3/6/2013 11:32:34 AM

+2 Boost

Gotta say one thing. If you don't do what Akido Toyoda wants or resist change then you career is toast. This man is about change!

dlin - 3/6/2013 3:18:58 PM

+1 Boost

Change to what? Easy taxpayer money for spending? Oh ya.... who doesn't love it?

nguyenvuminh - 3/6/2013 12:16:50 PM

+2 Boost

Do you know how hard it is to change 1/3 of mgmt at a company as big and deep as Toyota? There's no way Toyota, a Japanese icon if not global icon, would allow a CEO to have absolute power so it must have required tremendous political deftness to convince the board to let him do that. IF Toyota benefits from this courageous change and further improves its cars and operation, its gain will cause 2-3 more car companies to go out of business soon.

Agent009 - 3/6/2013 12:30:23 PM

+6 Boost

He swapped out just over 20% last year. So far the tally is almost 50% in 2 years. If that doesn't send a message then I'm not sure what does.

The biggest improvement?

Bringing in outsiders to see the "true" global picture, not a fabricated picture of the world.

nguyenvuminh - 3/6/2013 5:39:58 PM

+1 Boost

009 - I agree with you on Toyota will have better visibility and understanding of the markets that they do business in. The last 3 years in the US with the regulatory and P.R. fiasco really sent them a message about needing to understand the social/political/regulatory nuance of individual market or there will be financial ramifications. Their grasp of marketing, customer's preference/taste, operational efficiency are non-issue but it's the over arching environment that can do serious brand damage and the outside director will help.

lexworld - 3/7/2013 1:27:30 PM

+1 Boost

I can see if you resigned or retired, but getting fired at or near the top at Toyota? Yep, your career would be TOAST!

lexworld - 3/7/2013 1:39:22 PM

+1 Boost

...-nguyenvuminh, I dont think you clearly understand what's really going on here. This is a clean house strategy to fulfill and preserve this companies founding principles and objectives. #1) The Toyoda Way #2) Profit #3) Quality #4) Global World Leader #5) Be the Best of the Best. That my friend, is what Mr. Akio Toyoda is all about and he will be TAKING THAT TO THE BANKS! Where ever they may be!