Thursday, 6 September 2007
Veteran Toyota executive jumps ship after 37 years, joins Chrysler LLC
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Whoa! This one came out of nowhere. Jim Press, president/COO of Toyota Motor North America and senior managing director of Toyota Motor Corporation, will leave the Japanese automaker on Friday, September 14, 2007 and join Chrysler LLC the following Monday, September 17, 2007. Press will assume the roles of Vice Chairman and President at Chrysler, titles currently held by Tom LaSorda, although Chrysler says Press will simply join LaSorda in those positions with their duties split.
Press was a veteran at Toyota, beginning his career in 1970. He eventually became the first non-Japanese board member of Toyota Motor Corp and president of the North American division. His departure – at a time of Toyota dominance and increasing market share – is quite shocking. Press must be up for a challenge, as Chrysler needs a lot of work. New CEO Bob Nardelli, former Home Depot exec, seems to have hit the bullseye in bringing Press on board.
LaSorda remains in charge of Manufacturing, Procurement and Supply, Employee Relations and Global Business Development and Alliances. Press takes on North American Sales, International Sales, Global Marketing, Product Strategy, and Service and Parts. As Nardelli explains, “our top team now consists of a world-class ‘supply’ leader in Tom [LaSorda] and an equally world-class ‘demand’ leader in Jim [Press].”
Source: Chrysler media and Toyota pressroom
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