Jim Press gains a seat on Toyota's board of directors
Jim Press, the man at the helm of Toyota Motor North America, is set to become the first non-Japanese member of Toyota's board of directors. He is currently a managing officer of the company, but when promoted the title on his desk will read "Senior Managing Director". That desk will be shipped to Japan, where Press is apparently being relocated. It's not clear how effectively Press will be able to manage Toyota Motor North America from his executive desk chair in Japan, though we imagine many red eye flights will be required to keep an eye on the North American market. His appointment to the board of directors clearly signals the importance of the North American market to Toyota's fortunes, as if launching its own half-ton pickup in the U.S. didn't already send that signal loud and clear.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
toyotasucks 2:34PM (4/12/2007)
Who cares.
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synergeist 2:21PM (4/12/2007)
Nope, still not an American company (not that ought to surprise anyone).
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Tool 2:27PM (4/12/2007)
Jim Press has had a meteoric rise with Toyota over these past few years. That is for sure.
It surprises me that as President of TMA, which he was just promoted into, that he would now be based in Japan rather than New York as a result of being on the board. Especially if the idea is that Toyota wants to appear as an American company.
Oh well, maybe there are some additional movements afoot at Toyota that we don't know about yet.
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Viv 2:34PM (4/12/2007)
He can sail on the nose of that fugly tundra he is standing next to all the way to Tokyo.
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P to the C 2:47PM (4/12/2007)
Ummm, can you say t-o-k-e-n?
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whofan 2:48PM (4/12/2007)
They`ll keep his leash short. A puppet on a string. I`d try it for the salery he`s probably getting paid.
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Richie638 5:38PM (4/12/2007)
The Japanese must laugh themselves to sleep at night
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akns 7:44PM (4/12/2007)
From what I've read, Jim Press had done an awesome job building up Toyota America. Just look at how well Toyota is performing here these days. Well deserved!
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david 11:03PM (4/12/2007)
Rumor has it George Bush is in the running for Press's old job.
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david 9:56PM (4/14/2007)
He's leaning on the bumper to keep it from falling.
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