Date posted: 04-10-2007

DETROIT — Toyota is reportedly on the verge of a corporate reshuffle that may include naming Toyota North America CEO Jim Press to the Japanese automaker's board. If it happens, Press would be the first non-Japanese member of the Toyota board of directors.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, says the top echelon of Toyota should not change from its current team of Chairman Fujio Cho and President Katsuaki Watanabe, who are backed by eight executive vice presidents. However, Executive Vice President Yoshi Inaba is planning to leave Toyota for the presidency of an airport company in Japan. Inaba has been Toyota's point man in China.

If Press is promoted to senior managing director, which the Journal reports is expected at Toyota's June shareholder meeting, he would get a seat on the board as part of the promotion.

What this means to you: Toyota has been trying to look friendly and unthreatening to Americans. This might help.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=120396#2

 

Press's career in the last 3 years is just amazing.

 

I felt that the all-Japanese executives gave Toyota the "Japanese Powerhouse" image and was liked by the public but was feared by the competetors.

 

Would PR be the only reason??? I'm willing to bet that Mr. Press' talents would be immensely useful on the board. As former head of Lexus, now Toyota USA, he's intimately familiar with their operations in the biggest auto market.